The Nationalist Movement in Indo-China

(i) Proper place for a strong network : Early Vietnamese nationalists had a close relationship with Japan and China. Both these countries were models for those looking for change, a refuge for those who were escaping from the colonial government. These countries provided a location where a wider Asian network of revolutionaries could be established. Even Phan Boi Chau lived in Japan for some years.
(ii) Go East Movement :
1. It was a Vietnamese political movement founded by Phan Boi Chau at the start of the 20th century.
2.  The main aim of the movement was to encourage young Vietnamese to go east to Japan to get modem education.
3. Many young students went to Japan to get modern education. For most of them the primary objective was to drive out the French and to re-establish the Nguyen Dynasty.
4. They also sought Japan's support in their struggle against French.
5. They even established a branch of the Restoration Society in Tokyo.
6. But the movement slowed down after 1908 when Japanese Government banned the activities of the nationalists. Even Phan Boi Chau and many other leaders were deported.
(iii) Restoration Society : Most of the nationalists also wanted to establish a strong military in Vietnam on the lines of Japan which had defeated Russia in 1907. Vietnamese students established a branch of the Restoration Society in Tokyo but after 1908, the Japanese Ministry of Interior clamped down on them. Many nationalists including Phan Boi Chau, were deported, and forced to seek exile in China and Thailand.
(iv) Chinese Revolution, a source of inspiration : The Vietnamese nationalists were also inspired by the revolutionary movement which occurred in China. In 1911, the long established monarchy in China was overthrown by a popular movement under Sun Yat Sen and a ‘Republic' was set up. Inspired by these developments, the Vietnamese students organised the Association for the Restoration of Vietnam (Viet-Nam Quan Phuc Hoi).