<P> During the Chinese domination of North Vietnam, several civilizations flourished in what is today central and south Vietnam, particularly the Funanese and Cham . The founders and rulers of these governments, however, were not native to Vietnam . From the 10th century onwards, the Vietnamese, emerging in their heartland of the Red River Delta, began to conquer these civilizations . </P> <P> When Ngô Quyền (King of Vietnam, 939--944) restored sovereign power in the country, the next millennium was advanced by the accomplishments of successive dynasties: Ngôs, Đinhs, Early Lês, Lýs, Trầns, Hồs, Later Trầns, Later Lês, Mạcs, Trịnhs, Nguyễns, Tây Sơns and again Nguyễns . At various points during the imperial dynasties, Vietnam was ravaged and divided by civil wars and witnessed interventions by the Songs, Mongol Yuans, Chams, Mings, Dutch, Manchus, French . </P> <P> The Ming Empire conquered the Red River valley for a while before native Vietnamese regained control and the French Empire reduced Vietnam to a French dependency for nearly a century, followed by an occupation by the Japanese Empire . Political upheaval and Communist insurrection put an end to the monarchy after World War II, and the country was proclaimed a republic . </P> <P> According to mythology, for almost three millennia--from its beginning around 2879 B.C. (or early 7th century BC) to its conquest by Thục Phán in 258 B.C.--the Hồng Bàng period was divided into 18 dynasties, with each dynasty being based on the lineage of the kings . Throughout this era, the country encountered many changes, some being very drastic . Due to the limitation of the written evidence, the main sources of information about the Hồng Bàng period are the many vestiges, objects and artifacts that have been recovered from archaeological sites - as well as a considerable amount of legend . The land began as several tribal states, with King Kinh Dương Vương grouping all the vassal states at around 2879 BC . The ancient Vietnamese rulers of this period are collectively known as the Hùng kings (Vietnamese: Hùng Vương). </P>

Vietnam was a colony of what country prior to ww2