The Nguyen Dynasty’s Foreign Policy: Isolation and Its Consequences

“Distant countries are kept in check by courtesy, neighboring countries by power.” Nguyen Trai’s words from the Le So Dynasty seemed to echo in the Nguyen Dynasty’s foreign policy. As the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam, the Nguyen Dynasty faced numerous external challenges, especially the encroachment of Western powers. What was the Nguyen Dynasty’s foreign policy? This article will analyze it.

Historical Context of the Nguyen Dynasty’s Foreign Policy

Emerging from a protracted and devastating civil war with the Tay Son Dynasty, the Nguyen Dynasty (1802-1945) inherited a country facing many difficulties. At this time, Western capitalism was rapidly developing, seeking new colonies and markets. In this context, what foreign policy did the Nguyen Dynasty implement to protect the country?

The Nguyen Dynasty’s Isolationist Foreign Policy: Advantages and Disadvantages

The Nguyen Dynasty adopted a policy of isolation, limiting contact with Western countries and maintaining trade relations only with a few neighboring countries like China and Japan.

Advantages:

• Preserving Independence: The Nguyen Dynasty’s “closed-door” policy aimed to protect national independence and sovereignty against Western ambitions.
• Cultural Preservation: Limiting interaction also contributed to preserving the traditional cultural identity of the nation.

Disadvantages:

• Hindered Development: The isolationist policy caused Vietnam to lag behind the rapidly developing Western world. As a historian noted in Reviewing the Policies of King Quang Trung, “The lack of contact with the outside world prevented us from acquiring advanced scientific and technological achievements, leading to stagnation in the economy and military.”
• Loss of International Standing: The “closed-door” policy led to Vietnam gradually losing its position and voice in the international arena.

Foreign Policy Mistakes Leading to National Loss

However, the Nguyen Dynasty’s isolationist policy was primarily defensive and lacked effective offensive measures to protect the country. This was evident in:

• Arrogance: The Nguyen Dynasty considered itself the “Celestial Empire,” looking down on other countries and unwilling to learn from the West’s strengths.
• Military Backwardness: The Nguyen Dynasty maintained a military with outdated equipment, lacking modernization and upgrades to meet the demands of modern warfare.

These mistakes created conditions for French invasion and Vietnam’s subsequent colonization.

Lessons Learned from the Nguyen Dynasty’s Foreign Policy

The Nguyen Dynasty’s foreign policy offers valuable lessons for posterity:

• Prioritizing National Interests: All foreign policies must stem from national interests and serve the country’s development.
• International Integration without Assimilation: Active international integration and learning from the world’s cultural, scientific, and technological advancements are necessary while preserving and promoting national identity.
• Building a Comprehensive National Defense: Continuous modernization of the armed forces, enhancing national defense capabilities, and building a comprehensive national defense strategy are crucial for protecting the homeland.

Conclusion

The Nguyen Dynasty’s foreign policy is a topic of interest for many researchers. While there are debates surrounding this issue, it is undeniable that the Nguyen Dynasty’s foreign policy played a significant role in protecting Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty during a turbulent historical period. However, the limitations of this policy were also among the reasons why Vietnam fell under French colonial rule.

This article provided an overview of the Nguyen Dynasty’s foreign policy. To learn more about other policies in Vietnamese history, please read the article Grade 8: The First Colonial Exploitation Policy.