The Hạ châu or Southern Countries as Observed by Vietnamese Emissaries (1830-1844)

Abstract

Although commercial relations between Vietnam and Insulinde go back to the remote past, the Vietnamese have shown very little curiosity about their Southern neighbours ; this explains why travel accounts are so scarce. Here we intend to reflect on the reports and travel impressions written by demoted civil servants who were sent to the Hạ châu or “ Southern Countries” to redeem their faults when the Nguyễn court became interested in obtaining reports on the conditions and views of the European based in Bengal, the Straits, Java, and Luzon. The original versions of these reports have apparently not survived, but several copies are kept in various public libraries in Hanoi. The first was Lý Văn Phức (1785-1849) demoted in 1829 and dispatched to Calcutta in early 1830 via Singapore, Malacca and Penang. He wrote three texts of which a record in prose and a brief account in verse and prose more or less arranged in chronological order have survived. Cao Bá Quát (1809-1854) who in 1844 accomplished a mission to Singapore and Batavia was apparently the last demoted civil servant sent to the Hạ châu (after the arrival of the French in Vietnam the Nguyễn court developed its relations with Hong Kong). He was the first to realise that the Europeans were a particular danger to the region. In order to perceive the political situation in the Malay world the emissaries had to rely on the Chinese merchants who shared the same culture and who were the only people with whom they could communicate at least by mean of the brush.

Tay Son Uprising, 1771-1802: Reassessing Viet Nam's relations with the Malay Archipelago

“…Furthermore, this study is significant in tracing back the relationships that existed between Viet Nam and the Malay Archipelago, as previous studies on the subject are exceptionally scarce and seem to cease in the 1990s and early 2000s through the work of Lafont (1995), Nguyen The Anh (1995, 1996, Wong (2001, and 2018), and Salmon (2013. Therefore, there is a significant gap in the research on the relationship between Viet Nam and the Malay world.…”

“…This is because Viet Nam not only continued to establish relations with Guangzhou but also expanded its trade with Brunei, Johor, and Malacca (during the Portuguese invasion of Malacca). Scholars like Nguyen The Anh (1995,1996), Salmon (2013) and Wong (2001Wong ( , 2003 claim that historical ties between Viet Nam and the Malay Archipelago have long been intertwined since prehistoric times. Artifacts, such as pots and burial tools, jewellery, ceramics, glass, and metal objects, have been found in Hoi-an (Fai-fo).…”

“…Further, Salmon (2013) concluded that Vietnam gained a greater understanding of the Malay Archipelago following visits by the envoys of Vietnam's Emperor. One of the first, if not the first, was Ly Van Phuc (1785-1849), a descendant of Ming refugees.…”

“…Cao Ba Quat (1809-1854), who accomplished a mission to Singapore and Batavia in 1844, was apparently the last demoted civil servant sent to the Hạ chau (Southern Countries). According to Salmon (2013), andYu (2012), because of the visit of this envoy, Vietnam knew the Malay Archipelago better from its geographical setting. Among other things, Salmon (2003) concluded that Ly Van Phuc reached the same conclusion when he wrote that he gave his account the title of 'Tay hanh kien van ky luoc' (Brief Account of All what has been Heard and Seen during a Journey to the West), so that it may contribute to the geographical investigation.…”