What if Champa didn’t fall in 1471 and still existed today?
Point of departure
In this alternate timeline, Cei Bunga, Champa’s king who almost took over Dai Viet during a period of instability, doesn’t get killed during the 1390 war against them, and is instead able to push to Hanoi, capturing it and turning the nation into a vassal state for the next few years. After Dai Viet resists and becomes independent once again, Champa makes a military alliance with the Ming to keep itself protected in case of future invasion by the Vietnamese. This agreement holds for many centuries and is the main reason Champa was unable to be conquered by Dai Viet, fearing a retaliatory invasion by the Ming. Islam also begins spreading after this relative peace is established, with Malay, Arab and Indian merchants leading to the mass conversion of the populace, however some Hindus remain in the south with their practices, and some others follow a syncretized version of Islam, which are called Bani Chams.
Colonization
After this period, in 1890, the French begin their colonization into the area, first by trade, then by outright conquest. The French take over the city of Panrang and begin moving northward. Champa’s king, not wanting his country taken over, quickly signs a deal with the French, turning his country into a protectorate. The nation remains this way, with occasional revolts against French rule, until the 1940s, when Japan takes over.
WW2 and Cold War period
Japan invades the country in 1942, setting up a puppet government, The Empire of Champa, which lasts until 1945, when it is liberated by the allies and returned to France. The chams begin resisting occupation by the French in the Cold War, which begins a insurgency in the country, with the US supporting the monarchy, and the USSR supporting the revolutionaries. The revolutionaries eventually do win out, but only after a decades long war, and with Chinese military help.
Communist era
After the war, the Viet cong take over the country alongside Cambodia, installing puppet governments. This era is known for its brutal repression of non-communist Chams and discrimination against religious groups. In 1992-1993, Champa became controlled by a UN peacekeeping mission under UNTAC (United Nations Transitional Authority in Champa). The UN ran elections, had its own TV channels, and generally helped steer the country back to a more humane form of rule.
Present Day
Following the UN mission, Champa resorted its monarchy, and has now become a major economic and political player in ASEAN and the world as a whole, it has close ties to Malaysia and Indonesia, which are considered the three Malay sister nations, due to their historical past. Notable landmarks in the country include the Po Rome towers, various ancient forts, and the statue of Cei Bunga found in it’s capital city, Indrapura, which functions as part of it’s national pride.