This was the time Vietnam suffered from economic and political crisis. The economy fell down, people's life was very hard and feudal forces struggled over power.

Mac dynasty ruled in 1527. But the civil war and the division of the inside and the outside (Dang Trong and Dang Ngoai) led to the desolation in Ha Nam. In 1771, three brothers of Nguyen Nhac, Nguyen Hue and Nguyen Lu raised their arms in Tay Son. On December 17, 1788, Ton Si Nghi seized Thang Long.

On December 22, 1788, Nguyen Hue dispatched his troop to Thang Long. He divided into 5 arms to fight. Tay Son's troop and Ha Nam people wiped out Hoang Anh entrenched fortification (Thanh Liem), Nhat Tao post (Duy Tien)... At present, some places in Ha Nam still organize to celebrate glorious victories of King Quang Trung.

In this period, despite having difficulties and changes, traditional handicraft was still maintained and developed. Some trade centers appeared.

In 1802, Nguyen Anh enthroned and started Nguyen dynasty. However, Ha Nam people still suffered from a standstill although trading developed. Ha Nam's many good workers were forced to serve King and Royal family in Hue. About education, from XVI century to XIX century, Ha Nam had 42 people passing the pre-court competition exams such as Le Tung, Nguyen Khuyen, Bui Di and Bach Dong On, etc.