ABSTRACT
From the 15th century onwards, land reclamation in the country made great strides as the hydrological system was extended, uncultivated lands were exploited and new villages were created. During the Le dynasty, the territory of Vietnam was greatly expanded by the March to the South (as far south as the Mekong Delta), which provided new lands for a growing population and vastly extended the power of state. The traditional, compact village structure was abandoned as new inhabitants settled linearly along the banks of waterways and the rudimentary road networks.
