Surprisingly, there were people of Southeast Asia that were not influenced by India. These people were the Dai Viet. They were Vietnamese located in the coastal region south of China, made them fall under Chinese domination. In 100 B.C., during the Han Dynasty, China took over northern Vietnam. When the Tang Dynasty had weakened in 900 A.D., they were able to break away. They became an independent kingdom, and took the name Dai Viet, in 939. The Vietnamese used a lot of the Chinese cultural influences, including Buddhism and ideas about the government. They were able to keep a strong spirit of independence, and their own cultural identity. Vietnamese women, had more freedom than the Chinese women. 

Rulers of the Ly Dynasty (1009-1225) located their capital at Hanoi, on the Red River delta. They were able to establish a strong central government, and encouraged agriculture and trade. As well as improving river transportation. Changes made by the Ly continued to influence the life in Vietnam long after they fell from power.