![Tour Director Larry Abbott "rowing" the sampan](http://photos.travelblog.net/370890/969968/s/9184465-tour-director-larry-abbott-quot-rowing-quot-the-sampan-0.jpg "Tour Director Larry Abbott "rowing" the sampan")
![David Morley trying the "snake" drink](http://photos.travelblog.net/370890/969968/s/9184464-david-morley-trying-the-quot-snake-quot-drink-0.jpg "David Morley trying the "snake" drink")
The conquest of Vietnam by France began in 1858 and was completed by 1884. It became part of French Indochina in 1887. Independence was declared after World War II, but the French continued to rule until 1954 when they were defeated by Communist forc...more history