The montagnards and the state in northern Vietnam from 1802 to 1975: A historical overview

This article provides an overview of the recent interactions between the hi ghlanders of northern Vietnam and the successive powers that controlled the state between 1802 and 1975: Imperial Vietnam until 1883, the French colon ial state until 1954, and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam after that dat e. Ignored for a long time, courted during wartime, subject to strong accul turation policy since the independence of the North, these highland societi es are facing a constant challenge to their cultural survival.