Discovery of the location of Batsha and re-identification of Domea site on the Tonkin river in the 17th–18th centuries

Abstract

For many years, the precise location of Batsha, an important site in the international trade network of Tonkin in the 17th-18th centuries remained unidentified. This article reports the discovery of Batsha’s actual location, thereby illuminating a significant commercial waterway along the Tonkin river system. Through the analysis and comparison of old Western maps, together with geological, geomorphological, and historical sources, as well as field surveys, this study confirms that Batsha corresponds to present-day Bang La ward in Do Son district, Hai Phong city. This finding redefines the estuary of the Tonkin river as the Van Uc river mouth, a conclusion that differs from many previous studies. Such new evidence resolves a long-standing historical puzzle and allows for the reidentification of the location of Domea town, the Domea port, and the principal maritime trade route linking the sea with Pho Hien and Ke Cho (Hanoi). These discoveries represent a significant contribution, opening new directions for the study of international maritime trade in Tonkin, and particularly highlight the historical role of the Hai Phong region during this period.