Lâm Thị Mỹ Dung

Professor, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam

Research Interests

Lâm Thị Mỹ Dung received her BA/MA and PhD in Archaeology from Kliment Okhridsky (Sofia University), Sofia, Bulgaria in 1983 and 1987, respectively. Since 1989 has been employed as a lecturer in in Archaeology and Vietnamese Traditional Culture at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Hanoi, Vietnam. She was chair of the Department of Archaeology and former director of the Anthropology Museum. Her research interest covers the Metal Age in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, the appearance of rice cultivation and bronze metallurgy in Vietnam and the Archaeology of Champa.

Prof. Lâm Thị Mỹ Dung retired in 2023 and is currently working as a contracted specialist at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. She is engaged in teaching, research, program development, and mentoring young faculty members in the Department of Archaeology, Faculty of History.

Maritime Trade of Óc Eo – Funan

Archaeological and historical research confirms that Óc Eo culture provided the material foundation for the Funan Kingdom, comprising urban centers linked to trade, religious sites influenced by Indian civilization, and craft production hubs supported by agriculture[1]. Chinese records describe Funan as a political entity in the lower Mekong, covering parts of Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. However, Óc Eo was not entirely synonymous with Funan but represented its economic and cultural heart.

Geographically, Óc Eo culture spanned the Mekong Delta in Southern Vietnam. Key sites such as Óc Eo - Ba Thê, Gò Tháp, and Nền Chùa highlight its role in international trade. Funan’s port network acted as an intermediary, connecting Southeast Asia with India, China, and the Mediterranean.

From the 1st to the 7th century CE, Óc Eo flourished as Funan prospered, marked by urban and religious development. Strong Indian influences are evident in scripts (Sanskrit, Pallava), religions (Hinduism, Buddhism), and artifacts, including statues, inscriptions, and reliefs. Despite this, indigenous traditions such as nature worship, animism, and agricultural practices remained significant, creating a fusion of local and foreign elements.

Maritime trade was crucial to Óc Eo’s rise, rooted in early Iron Age traditions along the Đồng Nai, Vàm Cỏ, and Mekong basins over 2,500 years ago. By the 3rd–4th centuries BCE, Southeast Asian seas were integrated into global networks, linking China, India, and the Mediterranean. Ports like Hội An, Sa Huỳnh, Hòa Diêm, and Óc Eo - Ba Thê facilitated exchanges between China and India[2]. Archaeological evidence reveals imported goods from these regions, while exports included rice, jewelry, statues, spices, and precious woods. Imported luxury items such as gemstones, gold, and silver underscored Funan’s wealth.

Trade fueled urbanization, social stratification, and religious developments. It introduced Indian cultural elements, supported the emergence of merchant classes, and influenced economic practices like barter and currency use. Óc Eo’s strategic position made it a vital hub in the early Southeast Asian maritime system.

Decline of Óc Eo - Funan Maritime Trade

By the 7th century, Óc Eo - Funan’s maritime dominance declined due to geographical changes, competition with Srivijaya, and shifts in trade routes.

Geographical Changes: Sedimentation and river course shifts led to the silting up of major ports, reducing their accessibility and weakening Funan’s position in trade networks.
Competition with Srivijaya: The rise of Srivijaya in Sumatra, controlling the Malacca Strait, diverted trade away from Funan, diminishing its role as a regional intermediary.
Shifts in Trade Routes: The increasing direct trade between China and India bypassed Funan, undermining its economic foundation.

Funan’s decline paved the way for successor states like Chenla and later the Khmer Empire, which shifted inland and adapted new economic strategies. The legacy of Óc Eo - Funan’s maritime trade remained influential in shaping Southeast Asian trade dynamics in the centuries that followed.

[1] Bùi Minh Trí, Nguyễn Gia Đối, Nguyễn Khánh Trung Kiên 2022, Văn hóa Óc Eo Những phát hiện mới khảo cổ học tại di tích Óc Eo – Ba Thê và Nền Chùa, Nxb. Khoa học xã hội, Hà Nội, tr.349.

[2] Lâm Thị Mỹ Dung 2024, Tiền đề, cơ sở hình thành của hệ thống thương cảng Nam bộ, bài tham gia HTKH QT “Hệ thống thương cảng Nam Bộ: Tiềm năng, vị thế và các mối giao lưu vùng, liên vùng, An Giang .