Tonkin was administered by a French resident similar to those in Annam, Laos, and Cambodia, but he had much greater authority because of the absence of any indigenous administration.
Tonkin diperintah oleh seorang residen Prancis, seperti di di Annam, Laos, dan Kamboja, namun ia memiliki kewenangan yang jauh lebih besar karena ia memerintah langsung tanpa perantaraan pemerintahan pribumi.