Champa

Champa was an ancient kingdom located in what is now central and southern Vietnam, flourishing from the 2nd to the 19th centuries. Its people, known as the Cham, were of Austronesian origin and heavily influenced by Indian culture, evident in their Hindu and Buddhist religious practices. Champa was renowned for its sophisticated maritime trade, architecture, and art, especially the famous Cham towers. The kingdom was frequently involved in conflicts with neighboring Vietnamese states and was eventually integrated into Vietnam by the 19th century. Today, the Cham people and their cultural heritage remain an important part of Vietnam’s history and diversity.