RECONSTRUCTING THE WATERWAY TO THE MO XOAI REGION (18th-19th CENTURIES) (THROUGH SURVEY OF CHO BEN AND COASTAL TRADE ROUTE)

Abstract

The region of Mo Xoai, presently recognized as Ba Ria - Vung Tau, exhibits distinctive characteristics of waterways that facilitate the exchange between the coastal zone and the interior territories. This geographical advantage has significantly fostered the early movement and trade route of commodities within the locality. Empirical survey findings conducted in 2022 at various outflow points have yielded substantial evidence of commodity exchange activities occurring in the early nineteenth century. Furthermore, historical documentation pertaining to the region denotes an earlier establishment of the waterway, tracing back to the eighteenth century. Such information enables the delineation of the waterway that traverses towards the historical Mo Xoai Land, originating from the external coastal region and advancing through the coastal networks that lead into the interior areas.