Economic and Cultural Exchanges in Southern Vietnam under the Nguyễn Lords (17th –18th Centuries)

Abstract

In the 17th and 18th centuries, amid the flourishing of maritime trade, the Nguyễn lords expanded southward and established new territories. The East Sea trade network profoundly influenced these newly settled regions. Under relatively liberal policies of the Inner Court (Đàng Trong), commercial activity rapidly expanded. Within a short span, the Nguyễn government revived coastal trading ports in Central Vietnam such as Thanh Hà, Hội An, and Nước Mặn, followed by the development of ports in Đồng Nai, Sài Gòn, Bãi Xàu, Mỹ Tho, and Hà Tiên in the South. This article examines how the Nguyễn lords integrated into regional and global trade systems, and how economic and cultural exchanges flourished in Southern Vietnam during this era.