
An Absorbing and Romantic History in the Mekong
Eternalized and romanticized in films such as The Lover, the Mekong Delta is one of Southeast Asia’s quintessential landscapes. But behind the serene and tranquil vistas lies a compelling history that concerns large chunks of the world. The Vietnamese conquered the Cham and claimed the land from the Khmer, only to be colonized by the French soon after.
Understanding the agricultural value of the delta, European and Asian businesspeople set up shop here and built grand mansions along the riverbanks. Though usually far from the fighting, the Mekong Delta played an important part during the war as well: Ho Chi Minh reportedly worried that without the food production capabilities of the south, the north would starve.