French Indochina

This episode explores the history of French Indochina - France's colonial federation in Southeast Asia that lasted from 1887 to 1954. Drawing from a wide range of sources, we trace how French influence took hold through the conquest of Cochinchina, the creation of colonial administrations, and the waves of resistance that followed. The story spans two world wars, the First Indochina War, and the 1954 Geneva Agreements that brought independence to Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. We also look at how colonial rule shaped the region's economy, culture, language, and architecture - and how the legacy of French Indochina still echoes across Southeast Asia today.