Zhao Tuo (Trad. Chinese: 趙佗, Simp. Chinese: 赵佗 , Pinyin: Zhào Tūo WG: Chao Tuo, Vietnamese: Triệu Đà), (230 BC- 137 BC) was a Chinese general from the time of the Qin dynasty who founded the kingdom of Nanyue , or Nam Việt (南越). Born in northern China, he served in a Qin expeditionary force that was sent south. Along the way, he took a wife from the local Yue peoples. After the collapse of the Qin dynasty and the death of his superior, he took control the the region of modern-day Guangdong and allied himself with leaders of the Yue. Building up his power and territory, he declared himself the King of Southern Yue. Popular with the local peoples and enjoying their support, he called himself the Great Chief of the Southerners, employed local population in his administration and military, and encouraged intermarriage, while introducing Chinese material culture into his kingdom.

After the rise of the Han dynasty, he consented to being a vassal king under the Han empire. However, he continued to expand his kingdom, defeating and annexing the kingdom of Au Lac , in northern Vietnam. After the Empress Dowager Lü came to power, she tried to limit his power by restricting trade of useful products such as iron and horses to his territory. In response, he attacked Hunan and declared himself emperor. Emperor Han Wendi took a more conciliatory approach and offered him and his family honors and friendly relations if he would stop calling himself emperor. Chao Tuo died in 137 BC at the age of ninety-three. After that, Emperor Han Wudi was able to control his successors and in 111 BC annexed the kingdom as the prefecture of Jiaozhi (Vietnamese: Giao Chỉ)