Why did the French develop the infrastructural projects in Vietnam? How did they do so?
Main objectives of the French to develop the infrastructural projects in Vietnam was to ensure the supply of natural resources and other necessary goods.
(i) They began by building canals and draining lands in the Mekong delta to increase cultivation. The vast system of irrigation work-canals and earth work-built mainly with forced labour.This increased rice production and allowed the export of rice in international market.
(ii) To facilitate trade, various projects started to transport goods for trade, to move military garrisons and control the entire region. Construction of trans-Indo-China rail network was began that linked northern Vietnam with southern parts of Vietnam.
(iii) Link with Yaman in China was completed in 1910 and another to connect Vietnam with Siam or Thailand.
