The Kingdom ofFunan was established as a Hindu (Indian) kingdom in the Mekong delta area to foster trade between Hindu and parts of Asia, particularly China. It was at Oc-Eo, the port city of Funan, that coinage first appeared in Southeast Asia during the first few centuries of the Christian era. This coinage was based on the Hindu models of silver coins, and throughout the region's history, most coins have been local variations of this early Indian silver coinage.