MARITIME ECONOMIC GOVERNANCE UNDER THE NGUYEN DYNASTY, VIETNAM: FROM TRADE SECURITY TO MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Abstract

Abstract

This article examines the mechanisms employed by the Nguyen Dynasty to regulate and protect maritime economic activities between 1802 and 1858, focusing on two principal areas: maritime trade security and marine resource management. Drawing on historical sources, including Đại Nam thực lục (The Veritable Records of Đại Nam), Khâm định Đại Nam hội điển sự lệ (The Imperially Commissioned Administrative Compendium of Đại Nam), Nguyen Dynasty imperial administrative records, and relevant scholarly studies, the article employs historical, logical, and comparative methods to analyze administrative arrangements, regulatory instruments, and the limitations of maritime protection measures. The findings indicate that the Nguyen court adopted differentiated approaches according to the nature and geographical context of maritime economic activities. While maritime trade was primarily protected through naval patrols, port surveillance, anti-piracy operations, and maritime safety measures, marine resource exploitation was regulated through licensing systems, specialized administrative units, and obligations concerning taxation and the delivery of marine products to the state. Despite differences in implementation, these mechanisms served interconnected objectives of maintaining maritime security, exercising state authority, and safeguarding economic interests. Nevertheless, their effectiveness was constrained by environmental conditions, administrative capacity, and the availability of personnel and maritime resources. By comparing these distinct yet interrelated mechanisms, the article contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of maritime economic governance and its institutional limitations under the Nguyen Dynasty during the first half of the nineteenth century.