About 2,000 years ago people in North Vietnam began growing rice in the Red River Valley. However in the 2nd century BC the Chinese conquered and ruled northern Vietnam for more than 1,000 years and Chinese civilization had a great impact on the Vietnamese. In South Vietnam there was Indian influence. From the 1st century to the 6th century AD the southernmost part of Vietnam was part of a state called Champa. In the early 16th century the power of the Le dynasty declined. During the 17th and 18th centuries two rival families effectively held power, the Trinh in the north and the Nguyen in the south. The Nguyen family conquered the Mekong Delta from the Khmer Empire. Nguyen Anh took Hanoi in 1802 and made himself Emperor Gia Long. Under him Vietnam became a strong united kingdom. Meanwhile the Portuguese reached Vietnam by sea in 1516. In the late 19th century Vietnam became a French colony. The French captured Saigon in 1858 and in 1862 the emperor was forced to surrender 3 provinces to France. Finally in 1882 Vietnam was forced to become a French protectorate. In 1867 the French took the rest of South Vietnam. In 1887 it became part of the French colony of Indo-China. On 2 September 1945 Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam independent. In the north, started Communist regime while in the south Ngo Dinh Diem became ruler. Early 1960s South Vietnam was rocked by demonstrations and 1963 Diem was ousted. Early 1950, the US sent military advisors to South Vietnam. In January 1968 the Vietcong launched the Tet offensive in South Vietnam. Jan 1973 American troops withdrew. South Vietnam continued to fight Vietcong alone and collapsed on 30th of April 1975. Since then Vietnam was reunited under Communist rule till today!