THE MINH HUONG COMMUNITY IN THE CHO LON AREA (17TH - 19TH CENTURY): ECONOMIC - CULTURAL LIFE AND THEIR LEGACY IN THE URBAN HISTORY OF SAIGON

Abstract

The Minh Huong people refer to the group of Chinese individuals who migrated to Vietnam in the context of the Ming dynasty’s collapse and the subsequent consolidation of Qing rule in China. The Cho Lon area, due to its advantageous geographical position and conducive socio-economic development conditions, has emerged as a focal point for the Minh Huong population. The article employs fundamental historical methods, including historical analysis, logic, document examination, and field surveys, to reconstruct the economic and cultural life of the Minh Huong people from the 17th to the 19th century, while examining the distinctive characteristics of Minh Huong village in the formation and development of Saigon’s uran area. The research findings indicate that Minh Huong village has significantly influenced the establishment of early urban space, the development of the urban economy and trade and the development of distinctive cultural identity of Saigon uranity. Consequently, the article seeks to clarify the historical significance of the Minh Huong population in the development of the Saigon - Cho Lon urban area as a prominent commercial and cultural hub in the South of Vietnam.