Why did the war happen?
This war lasted for 2 years, from 1883-1885. In this time many campaigns and battles took place. The Son Tay campaign, which took place in December 1883. The French were trying to take control of Tonkin (Northern Vietnam), from the Black Flag Army. The French won this battle as well as the Bac Ninh Campaign (March 1884). In May 1884 the French, Chinese and Vietnam tried to come to an agreement for who controls which parts of Vietnam belong to who. This was the Tientsin Accord, which in it involved the Treaty of Hue. But the Accord wasn't written very specifically. It said that the Chinese had to leave Annum, but not when, so they stayed. This resulted in the Battle of Fuzhou (Foochow)(August 1884). So the French took revenge against China and this resulted in many Chinese dying.