Treaty of Saigon (1874)

The Treaty of Saigon was signed on 15 March 1874 between the Third French Republic and the Nguyễn dynasty of Vietnam.

It was negotiated for the French by Paul-Louis-Félix Philastre and reiterated the stipulations of the Treaty of Saigon of 1862. Vietnam recognized the full sovereignty of France over the three provinces captured by Admiral La Grandière in 1867. The Red River (Song Hong) was opened for trade as well as the ports of Hanoi, Haiphong and Qui Nhơn. Although France returned Hanoi, the Vietnamese emperor was anxious to get help from China. As a result, both France and China claimed sovereignty over Vietnamese territory. In March 1882, the first civilian governor of Cochin China, Le Myre de Vilers, deemed the treaty of 1874 unfulfilled. This led to the occupation of Hanoi on 27 April 1882.