Strikes in Vietnam, as in other countries, have a long history. After Vietnam regained independence from the French in 1954, strikes were recognized as a fundamental right of labor, and officially acknowledged by the central government. Article 174 of Decree No. 29/SL, dated March 12, 1947, stipulated: “workers have the rights to freedom of assembly and strike. A subsequent decree shall define the scope of exercise of these rights as well as modes of conciliation and arbitration.” However, due to the war between Vietnam and France, “a subsequent decree” was never issued, and so Decree No. 29/SL was never enforced.