Funan and Champa: The Historical Legacy of Vietnam’s Southern Civilizations

While northern Vietnam has long been influenced by China, the southern region experienced the significant impact of Indian civilization, particularly during the early centuries AD. Indian traders, navigating east towards China, established Hindu settlements along the southern Indochinese coast, with the most notable city-state being Funan. Centered around the port city of Oc Eo, near present-day Rach Gia in the Mekong Delta, Funan emerged as a vital trading nation by the early third century, with trade connections reaching as far as Persia and Rome. However, advancements in maritime technology during the fifth century allowed larger ships to bypass coastal ports, leading to Funan’s gradual decline.

During this period, another Indianized kingdom, Champa, began to flourish along the central Vietnamese coast. The origins of Champa remain somewhat obscure, but its economy thrived on agriculture, particularly wet-rice cultivation, fishing, and maritime trade. Champa engaged in trade with various cultures, including Indians, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabs, through bustling ports such as Hoi An and Quy Nhon. Governed by divine kings who initially revered Shiva and later adopted Buddhism, the religious influence is evident in the spectacular temples and monuments that dot the Vietnamese coastline today.

Champa’s history was marked by ongoing conflicts with its neighbors, sandwiched between the Khmer to the south and the Vietnamese clans to the north, who were under Chinese rule initially. By the end of the eleventh century, Champa had lost its northern territories, and persistent wars with the Khmer in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries culminated in significant events, including a Cham offensive that ultimately led to the destruction of Angkor. The ascension of the belligerent king Binasuor in 1361 heralded a period of Cham territorial expansion, but following his death in 1390, the Viets reclaimed lost territories, particularly around Indrapura, near modern-day Da Nang. A decisive campaign led by Le Thanh Tong in 1471 resulted in the fall of Vijaya, further diminishing Champa’s influence as it shifted its capital southward.

For several more centuries, the Cham rulers maintained a nominal claim over areas around Phan Rang and Phan Thiet. However, the last independent Cham king died in 1697, reducing what remained of the kingdom to a Vietnamese vassal state. In the 1820s, under Emperor Minh Mang, Champa was fully integrated into Vietnam, prompting the last Cham king to flee to Cambodia. Today, the descendants of the Cham kingdom, estimated at around one hundred thousand, primarily inhabit the regions of Phan Rang and Phan Thiet, with smaller communities found in Tay Ninh and Chau Doc.

This rich historical narrative illustrates the complex tapestry of Vietnam’s southern region, highlighting the cultural influences and conflicts that shaped its development. The legacies of Funan and Champa continue to resonate through the historical sites and cultural practices of the region, offering a glimpse into the vibrant past that still influences modern Vietnam.