Frontmatter -- Contents -- Maps and Illustrations -- Chronological Outline -- Preface -- PART I. THE PRE-FRENCH PERIOD -- Chapter 1. Chinese colonialism (B.C. 111-939 A.D.) Two languages: Vietnamese and Chinese One writing system: Chinese -- Chapter 2. Monarchical independence (939-1651) Two languages: Chinese and Vietnamese Two writing systems: Chinese (Sino-Vietnamese) and ideographic Vietnamese (Nom) -- Chapter 3. Monarchical independence and Catholic separatism (1651-1861) Two languages: Vietnamese and Chinese Three writing systems: Chinese (Sino-Vietnamese), ideographic Vietnamese (Nom) and romanized Vietnamese -- PART II. THE FRENCH PERIOD -- Chapter 4. French Colonialism (1861-1945) Three languages: Vietnamese, Chinese and French Four writing systems: Chinese (Sino-Vietnamese), ideographic Vietnamese (Nom), romanized Vietnamese (Quoc Ngu) and French -- PART III. THE POST-FRENCH PERIOD -- Chapter 5. National independence (1945-Present) One language: Vietnamese One writing system: Quoc Ngu -- GLOSSARY -- Bibliography -- Index