Vietnam and China had economic, political, and cultural relations from thousands of years ago. Until the French colonialists invaded, Vietnam still maintained trade relations with China on a regular basis in the border areas on land and at sea. So far, researchers have yet to fully explain the inconsistencies in the ways of French colonialists’ policy on implementing commercial monopolies and imposing high taxes on foreign goods (including Chinese goods) but used Chinese businessmen as useful assistants for France in Indochina! It is known that this main factor contributed in no small part in maintaining trade relations between the two countries rich of historical-cultural traditions. On the basis of domestic and international material resources, the author tries to outline the picture of trade relations between the two countries through the trade agreements as well as the conversion of import-export indexes, trade balance ... at the end of 19^th century and at the beginning of 20^th century. Based on that, the readers will have more foundations to assess Vietnamese-Chinese trade shaft in an objective, and comprehensive manner, and have new perspectives on foreign trade between Vietnam and Indochina in the modern history, serving the renovation and economic integration of the country in the current period.

trade relation, Vietnam–China, economic history, French colonial period