Abstract

The maritime and island areas of northern Vietnam contain abundant natural resources and provide favorable conditions for livelihoods, while also presenting challenges relating to security, defense, maritime sovereignty, and national sovereignty. During the first half of the nineteenth century, the Nguyen dynasty established a system for defending and protecting these areas. This system supported the implementation of security and defense policies and measures and contributed to the exercise and protection of the dynasty’s maritime sovereignty. It focused on constructing state defensive facilities, including military stations, fortified posts, and fortresses, while also developing community-based defensive networks, particularly through forces engaged in land reclamation along the coast.

Keywords: First half of the nineteenth century, maritime and island defense, northern Vietnam, protection of maritime areas, Nguyen dynasty.