Early Buddhism in the Lower Mekong Delta: Archaeological Evidence from the Óc Eo Culture and South Asian Connections

VÕ Thị Huỳnh Như

The emergence and spread of Buddhism across Mainland Southeast Asia were closely connected to long-distance maritime networks linking South Asia with the wider Indo-Pacific region. The Lower Mekong Delta, where the Óc Eo culture flourished in southern Vietnam, formed an important node within these networks. Archaeological excavations carried out over several decades have produced substantial evidence of an early Buddhist presence in the region. This paper examines archaeological materials from several Óc Eo sites dating from the early centuries CE to the middle of the first millennium. The study focuses on a range of Buddhist-related finds, including wooden, stone, and bronze Buddhist images, gold plaques bearing Buddhist inscriptions, architectural remains, and other ritual objects. By analysing the stylistic and iconographic features of these artefacts and comparing them with examples from South Asia, the paper situates the Mekong Delta within broader patterns of religious and artistic interaction across the Indo-Pacific. Rather than interpreting these materials simply as evidence of cultural diffusion, the study suggests that Buddhist ideas and practices were adopted and adapted within local cultural and ritual settings. Through an examination of the archaeological record, the paper contributes to discussions on the mobility and localization of Buddhist traditions in the Indo-Pacific region and highlights the Lower Mekong Delta as an important centre in early Buddhist networks across Southeast Asia.