Volume 3 Issue 2 | 2026 | View PDF
Paper Id:IJMSM-V3I2P103
doi: 10.71141/30485037/V3I2P103

The Struggle for Influence in Laos between Vietnam and Siam during the First Half of the 19th Century

Dr. Nguyen Van Luan

Citation:
Dr. Nguyen Van Luan, "The Struggle for Influence in Laos between Vietnam and Siam during the First Half of the 19th Century" International Journal of Multidisciplinary on Science and Management, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 15-22, 2026.

Abstract:
This article analyzes the power struggle and geopolitical competition between the Nguyen Dynasty (Vietnam) and the Chakri Dynasty (Siam) over the Lao territories during the first half of the 19th century. Drawing upon official historical records and contemporary academic research, the study elucidates the process by which these two regional powers asserted their influence over the Lao principalities, most notably the Kingdom of Vientiane. The findings indicate that the initial period of' diplomatic amity during the reign of Emperor Gia Long rapidly transitioned into intense confrontation under Emperor Minh Mang, culminating in the Chao Anouvong rebellion. This rivalry was characterized not merely by territorial expansion but also by strategic efforts to establish security "buffer zones" and validate political legitimacy within the Southeast Asian regional order. The research underscores the profound impact of this Sino-Vietnamese-Siamese contest on the demarcation of administrative boundaries and the regional geopolitical structure prior to the extensive intervention of Western colonial powers in the Indochinese Peninsula.

Keywords: Vietnam, Siam, Laos, Nguyen Dynasty, Hegemonic competition, Geopolitics.

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