<prompt> Translate the following text to EnglishKatika karne za mapema za enzi ya Kikristo, eneo la peninsula hiyo lilikuwa kituo kizuri cha biashara na Bengal na India ya kusini, na lilivutia makoloni ya Wahindi kutoka bonde la Mekong la Indochina.  <response>: In the early centuries of the Christian era, the peninsulas advantageous position made it an ideal way-station for trade with Bengal and southern India, and attracted Indianized colonies from the Mekong valley of Indochina. 