Indochina & Mekong History

Archeology covering this period has revealed the existence of a seaport at Oc-Eo on the edge of the Mekong Delta that has links with China and Mediterranean world. Chinese records speak of Fu-Nam, a state established in the Mekong region. Modern scholarship judges Fu-Nam have been a collection of petty state rather than a simple polity. Chinese records no longer speak of Fu-Nam but of Chenla, a state in two parts, one around territory of modern Cambodia, the other possibly centre on Wat Phu in southern Laos. Period of great Cambodian empire based at Angkor. Three centuries later Marco Polo presumed to have crossed the Mekong in western Yunnan when traveling out of China on his way to Bengal. Chinese envoy Chou Ta-kuan visits Angkor and writes a detailed description of the city and its inhabitants. The Cambodian leaves Angkor henceforth the Cambodian capital is located near the side of Phnom Penh today. The Portuguese capture the Malacca and shortly afterward references to the Mekong appear in their records.

The firs recorded visit to Cambodia by a European, the Portuguese priest, Father Da Cruz. He leaves in 1557. The publication of first map showing the Mekong running through Cambodia, Portuguese and Spanish missionaries return to Cambodia led by Blas Ruiz and Diego Veloso. They play an active role in Cambodia’s royal politics. French begins it invasion of Vietnam in 1858, capturing Saigon in 1861. Henri Mouhot visits Angkor and dies near Luang Prabang in 1861. France established a protectorate over Cambodia in 1863. The French Mekong Expedition explores the river from Vietnam to Yunan, China. The French construct a railway across Khone Fall and launch gunboat on the Fall’s northern upper river.

France extends control over Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam as French Indochina. Europeans power recognizes China’s sovereignty over Sip Song Panna (Xishuangbanna) region in the far south of Yunnan province. French left Indochina in 1954.

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