The Third Chinese domination of Vietnam saw two Chinese imperial dynasties rule over the Chinese controlled region of Chiaozhou (交州, Vietnamese: Giao Châu; an area of northern Vietnam roughly corresponding to the modern Hanoi).

From 602-618, the area was under the late Sui Dynasty under three districts in the Red River Delta. From 618-906, the Tang Dynasty became the new Chinese rulers of Annam. The mid-7th century saw the arrival of Islam.

Although Chinese governors were sent to rule over Annam, a series of local emperors were unofficial rulers under the Chinese control:

• Lê Ngọc led a rebellion in the early 7th century

• Lý Tự Tiên and Ðinh Kiến 687

• Mai Hắc Đế or Mai Thúc Loan (Mai the Black Emperor) 722

• Mai Thiếu Đế 722-723? - referred to as the Juvenile Emperor, he was the son of Mai Hắc Đế and ruled only briefly following his father's death and overrun by the 100,000 men strong Tang army

• Bố Cái Đại Vương of Phùng Hưng 791-799 - called the Emperor the Great Father

• Phùng An 799-802 - son of Bố Cái Đại Vương and was defeated by the Tang army

• Vương Quý Nguyên led a rebellion in 803

• Dương Thanh led a rebellion in 819–820

• Khúc Thừa Dụ - a rich man who was admired by people, Khúc pushed out the Tang from the region, but later worked with the Tang to establish himself as the first Vietnamese governor and ended the practice of Chinese governorships in the region.