On the Existence of the VOC Factory in Pho Hien in the Seventeenth Century

Abstract

VOC trade activities in Dai Viet (Great Viet) in the seventeenth century result in many research achievements. Despite the fact that there are many researches on the VOC in Pho Hien, including monographs, articles etc. by the French and Vietnamese researchers. But in this article, I try to discuss in question two issues relevant to the existence of VOC's factory in Pho Hien. The first one is the VOC's founding in Pho Hien in 1637; the second one is the duration of its existence there in the seventeenth century. I think that, firstly, this is not yet possible to affirm the time of founding VOC factory in Pho Hien in 1637; and secondly, this factory (if any) is just existed in the short time until 1640s. At least, it is unable to find any evidence of a Dutch factory in Pho Hien in 1670s, 1680s, including the fact that the relationships with Le-Trinh government and trading activities of the VOC merchants have remained best as compared to other foreign merchants in Tonkin.