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Vietnam > Places & Sights > Rach Gia > Oc-eo
This ancient city, found about six miles (10 kilometers) inland from Rach Gia was an important port at the height of the ancient Kingdom of Funan from the 1st - 6th centuries AD.
It lay submerged for centuries until it was rediscovered in the 1940s. It is an important site for archaeologists, but there is not a great deal for tourists to see. Some artefacts are found in the Historical and Art museums in Saigon.
Most of what is known of Funan comes from this site, which revealed evidence of contact with China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Persia, the Roman Empire, Thailand, and written accounts of Chinese emissaries and travellers.
Excavations have shown that buildings were constructed on piles and the city was connected by a complex network of irrigation and transport canals. Like many of the ancient empires of the region, Oc-eo built its wealth on controlling trade between the east (China) and the west (India, Mediterranean).
The site is near the village of Tan Hoi, and is only accessible by boat, which you can hire from the riverfront beyond Vinh Tan Van Market. You may need special permission to visit the area, so ask at the local Vietnam Tourism Authority.