France–Vietnam relations

France–Vietnam relations (French: Relations franco-vietnamiennes; Vietnamese: quan hệ Pháp-Việt) are the diplomatic and historical relations between the French Republic and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. These relations began in the 17th century with Catholic missions and various traders until the major involvement of French forces under Pierre Pigneau de Béhaine from 1787 to 1789 helped establish the Nguyễn dynasty. France was heavily involved in Vietnam in the 19th century under the pretext of protecting Catholic missions and ensuring trading privileges in the country. In practice, however, colonial officials in French Indochina were strongly secularist.