Principality of Hà Tiên  The Principality of Hà Tiên (; , , "Mueang Phutthaimat") or Hà Tiên Protectorate, was a "de facto" independent principality in the mouth of Mekong Delta, later a vassal principality of the Siamese Rattanakosin Kingdom and Vietnamese Nguyễn dynasty in the 18th and 19th century before being annexed by Vietnam in 1832. The principality located on present-day Cambodia–Vietnam border. It was ruled by Chinese refugees. The name of the principality was variously spelled as "Hexian Zhen" (河仙鎮), "Nangang" (南港), "Gangkou" (港口), "Bendi" (本底) or "Kundama" (昆大嗎) in Chinese, "Phutthaimat" () or "Banthaimat" () in Thai, "Ponthiamas", "Pontheaymas" and "Pontiano" in French, "Panthai-mas", "Bantaimas", "Pontiamas", "Pontaimas", "Bantay-mas", "Banteay M'eas", "Pontiamas", "Pontiamasse", "Po-taimat", "Can Cao", "Cancar", and infinite other variations. Many of the pronunciations were similar to "Banteay Meas", thus confusing Hà Tiên with a nearby town Banteay Meas.  Hà Tiên and its nearby area had been a part of Cambodia for a long time. In 18 century, a Chinese refugee, Mo Jiu (Mạc Cửu), was granted the Khmer title "Oknha" (, "marquess") by Cambodian king. He was allowed to build a small town in the mouth of Mekong Delta. The colonial town was known as Hà Tiên in Vietnamese sources, while Cambodian called it "Peam" (). This area had a dual political structure: Mạc Cửu ruled Chinese and Vietnamese; while local Khmers continued to be ruled by a Khmer governor, called "Oknha Reacheasetthi" (). However, Siamese sources called the Hà Tiên rulers "Phraya Rachasethi" (), thus confusing them with the Khmer governor.