越南阮朝明命時期（1820–1841）海防體系的改革與運作

Nguyễn Dynasty Emperor Minh Mạng’s (1820–1841) Reform and Operation of Vietnam’s Coastal Defense

阮朝是越南最後一個封建王朝，曾遭受法國殖民統治，在近代越南獨立建國時期，成為被批判的對象，認為阮朝喪權辱國，將越南人民帶入悲慘的殖民時代。對於阮朝的歷任統治君主幾乎沒有正面的評價。加上現代越南信奉共產主義，將西山阮起義視為無產階級對於封建君主的反抗象徵，將其視為民族英雄，致使將其消滅的阮朝遭受撻伐。當然就無法對於阮朝歷代的皇帝有比較客觀的描述，但若細心觀察，從開國的嘉隆帝到嗣德帝，都是勵精圖治的君主，尤其是第二任皇帝明命皇帝。明命皇帝對於海防體系的改革與運作規劃，目的在於管理外來船隻在越南沿海的活動狀況，但明命皇帝也瞭解西方國家最終的目的是希望打開越南的市場，如同清朝一樣，為了未雨綢繆，必須增強自己的海防力量。然而，這套理想的海防措施，後來因為教禁的問題而有不同發展，遂導致後來的教禁，進而造成閉關自守的態勢。

The Nguyễn dynasty was Vietnam's last feudal. The Nguyễn dynasty, which was ruled for a long time by France starting in the 1860’s, has been harshly criticized, and there have been almost no positive reviews about its successive rulers. Modern Vietnamese believe in communism, and see the uprising of Tây Sơn Nguyễn as a symbol of resistance to the feudal monarchy. The Nguyễn dynasty crushed that uprising, and for that has been criticized.
However, the facts show that the Gia Long to the Tự Đức Emperors made great efforts to build a strong state, especially the second emperor Minh Mạng. In the face of Western forces, Emperor Minh Mạng’s policy seemed to show his emphasis on coastal defense. He believed that to manage foreign trade, it was necessary to have strong coastal defense. This way, Western countries would clearly see the strength of Vietnam’s coastal defense, and would not dare to invade. This policy showed his emphasis on marine defense, without any doubt. Although Emperor Minh Mang’s thought was influenced by Confucianism, he still actively learned Western technology and applied it against the Western forces. This earned him praise. If the later emperors had continued this emphasis on maritime policy, Vietnam’s Nguyễn Dynasty naval forces should have been able to maintain a certain level of strength. However, they did not continue his reforms during the Nguyễn Dynasty.