Breakaway Destination Guides (International)

The Khmer empire was the largest empire in South Asia for six centuries, ruling from the area around Angkor in today's Northern Cambodia from 802 to 1431. The early Khmer rulers adopted Indian culture and religions, brought by Indian traders. A succession of kings marked their reign by building their state temple dedicated to a Hindu divinity, and later to Buddha. In addition to its military prowess, a key factor of the strength of the Khmer empire was the creation of a complex network of irrigation channels that made two or three harvests a year possible and could sustain a vast population.

French Indochina was a federation of French colonies and protectorates in Southeast Asia, part of the French colonial empire. It consisted of Cochin China, Tonkin, Annam, Laos and Cambodia. France assumed sovereignty over Annam and Tonkin after the Franco-Chinese War (1884–1885). French Indochina was formed in October 1887, from Annam, Tonkin, Cochin China, and the Kingdom of Cambodia; Laos was added in 1893. The federation lasted until 1954. The capital of French Indochina was Hanoi. The French formally left the local rulers in power (Emperors of Vietnam, Kings of Cambodia, Kings of Luang Prabang), but in fact gathered all powers in their hands, the local rulers acting only as figureheads.

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