<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The Chinese domination of Vietnam (Vietnamese: Bắc thuộc, Hán tự: 北 屬, "Belonging to the North (China)") began in 111 BC, and is usually considered to have ended in 938 AD . A fourth, relatively brief, 20 - year punitive invasion by the Ming dynasty, 400 years later, is usually excluded by historians in discussion of the main, almost continuous, period of Chinese colonization from 111 BC to 938 AD, as is the brief occupation of northern Vietnam by Chinese forces at the end of the Second World War . </P> <Ul> <Li> First Chinese domination of Vietnam (111 BC--39 AD) Chinese incursions, followed by Chinese victory in the Han - Nanyue War (111 BC), established Chinese rule in Vietnam . This was briefly interrupted by the revolt of the Trưng Sisters (40--43 AD). </Li> <Li> Second Chinese domination of Vietnam (43--544) ended by the revolt of Lý Nam Đế who led a rebellion taking advantage of internal disorder in China and the weakness of the waning Liang dynasty . This secured 60 years of independence for Vietnam, but following regime change and consolidation of power in China, the new Sui dynasty sent an overwhelmingly large army south to reestablish control over northern Vietnam in 602 . </Li> <Li> Third Chinese domination of Vietnam (602--938) starting with the peaceful abdication by Lý's successor in the face of overwhelming Chinese numbers, and marked by entrenchment of mandarin administration . The period concluded with the internal collapse of China's Tang dynasty and Ngô Quyền's destruction of the Southern Han armada at the naval Battle of Bach Dang River (938). </Li> <Li> Fourth Chinese domination of Vietnam (1407--1427) a 20 - year occupation by the Ming dynasty army, from Vietnamese defeat in the Ming--Hồ War (1406--1407) to Vietnamese rebellion and Lê Lợi's defeat of the Chinese at the Battle of Tốt Động--Chúc Động and Battle of Chi Lăng - Xương Giang (1427). </Li> </Ul>

When did vietnam free itself from chinese control