The Kingdom of Champa once held reign over the South China Sea and the entirety of central Vietnam. Find out more about the Cham Civilisation and their ways.
Origins
The Cham are believed to have descended from Malayo-Polynesian people who travelled by sea to Vietnam from Borneo. Academics believe the Sa Huynh to be their ancestors as they populated the region at the same time Cham culture started booming. If you’re looking for a Quy Nhon hotel, there are many great options such as Anantara Quy Nhon Villas for instance.
Religion
A melting pot of religions, the Cham follow Hinduism and Islam, mixing both with their own belief system. The former are called Balamon and the latter, Bani. But in holding onto their tradition, they also pray to their own ancestors, kings and deities.
Language
The Cham are one of the few minorities in the region to have founded their own writing system stemming from Sanskrit. However, this is endangered due to Vietnamese being the government-mandated state language. This has resulted in a minority within a minority that remains well-versed in the language.
Culture
The Cham built temples and tombs centuries ago which have fast disappeared under more modern civilisations. They are held in high esteem for their expertise on textiles woven by hand. The Cham are also recognised for their impact on Vietnamese music, and Cham musicians are still in demand in places of entertainment.
Intrigued by history, art and food, Lavinia Woolf is a writer who is passionate about the extraordinary and writes of the exhilarating and enchanting. Google+