Champas
Champas refers to the Champa people, inhabitants of the historic Champa kingdoms along the central and southern coast of what is now Vietnam. In English, the term Champa or Chăm Pa is used for the realm, while the Cham people self-identify as Chăm. The form Champas appears in some historical or scholarly texts as a plural or exonym for the Champa realm and its inhabitants.
The Champa states developed from the 2nd century CE and occupied a coastline stretching from present-day central
Culture and religion: Early Champa rulers adhered to Hinduism, especially Shaivism, and built monumental temple complexes
Language and writing: The Cham language, a branch of the Chamic group within the Austronesian family, was
Modern legacy: The Cham people retain a distinct identity and continue to inhabit parts of central and