Indo-China which consists of Cambodia, Annam, Tonking and Cochin- China came under the colonial rule of France towards the close of the nineteenth century. The story of French intervention in Indo-China goes back to the year 1786 when a Catholic bishop led a group of soldiers into Cochin-China.

He however, did not acquire any territory. For the first time the French acquired territorial control in Indo-China in 1862. But it Was only towards the close of nineteenth century that France succeeded in establishing her domination over the three eastern provinces of Cochin- China.

France also established protectorate over Tonking, Annam, Cam­bodia and Laos. However, this difference between colony and protectorate existed only in theory because they were all subject to a Ijighly centralised system of French administration.