Hòa Bình province

For other uses, see Hòa Bình.
Hòa Bình
Province
Official seal of Hòa Bình
Seal
Location of Hòa Bình within Vietnam
Location of Hòa Bình within Vietnam
Map
Interactive map outlining Hòa Bình Province
Coordinates: 20°20′N 105°15′E / 20.333°N 105.250°E / 20.333; 105.250
Country Vietnam
RegionNorthwest
CapitalHòa Bình
Subdivision1 city and 9 districts
Government
 • TypeProvince
 • BodyHòa Bình Provincial People's Council
 • Chairman of People's CouncilBùi Đức Hinh
 • Chairman of People's CommitteeBùi Văn Khánh
Area
[1]
 • Province
4,590.30 km2 (1,772.32 sq mi)
Population
 (2024)[2]
 • Province
1,380,500
 • Density300/km2 (780/sq mi)
 • Urban
250,000
Ethnic groups
[3]
 • Mường64.28%
 • Vietnamese[4]25.69%
 • Thái4.03%
 • Tày3.02%
 • Dao2.02%
 • Others0.96%
GDP[5]
 • ProvinceVND 40.867 trillion
US$ 1.774 billion
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Area codes218
ISO 3166 codeVN-14
HDI (2020)Increase 0.729[6]
(21th)
Websitewww.hoabinh.gov.vn

Hòa Bình or Hoà Bình (see tone marks) is a mountainous province of Vietnam, located in the nation's Northwest region. It borders Phú Thọ province and Sơn La province to the northwest, Hanoi to the northeast, Hà Nam province to the east, Ninh Bình province to the southeast and Thanh Hóa province to the south. The province covers an area of about 4,590 km2 (1,772 sq mi)[1] and as of 2022 it had a population of 875,380 people.[2] In 2020, the GDP per capita of the province was estimated to be $2625 (equivalent to 60.5 million Vietnamese đồng).[7]

History

Map of Hoa Binh province in 1909

Hòa Bình province was created on June 22, 1886, following the decree of Tonkin with the name "Mường Province", splitting Mường majority areas from Hưng Hóa province, Sơn Tây province, Hanoi and Ninh Bình province. Its name derives from the Sino-Vietnamese 和平, meaning "peace."

The province was administered from Chợ Bờ (in Đà Bắc District), hence it was also known as "Chợ Bờ Province", until in November of the same year, it was relocated to Phương Lâm District (today in Bất Bạt District, Hà Tây province). In April 1888 it was renamed "Phương Lâm province" by the French colonial authorities.

On March 18, 1891, the Governor-General of French Indochina decreed that the name of the province would change to Hòa Bình province with six districts: Lương Sơn, Kỳ Sơn, Lạc Sơn, Lạc Thủy, Mai Châu and Đà Bắc.

On October 15, 1957, Tân Lạc District was formed from a portion of Lạc Sơn District.

On April 17, 1959, Kim Bôi District was formed from a portion of Lương Sơn District.

On August 17, 1964, Yên Thủy District was formed from a portion of Lạc Thủy District.

On December 12, 2001, Cao Phong District was formed from a portion of Kỳ Sơn District.

On December 17, 2019, Kỳ Sơn District was annexed by the city of Hòa Bình.

Demographics

According to the General Statistics Office of the Government of Vietnam, the population of Hòa Bình province as of 2019 was 854,131 with a density of 186 people per km2 over a total land area of 4,590.57 km2 (1,772.43 sq mi). The male population during this period was 426,923 while the female population was 427,208. The rural population was 719,811 against an urban population of 134,320 (about 19% of the rural population).[3]

There are more than 40 ethnic groups in Hòa Bình recognized by the Vietnamese government. Each ethnicity has their own language, traditions, and subculture. The largest ethnic groups are: Mường (64.28%), Vietnamese (25.69%), Thái (4.03%), Tày (3.92%), Dao (2.02%). Others accounted for the remaining 0.96%.[3]

Culture

Muong Bich Tru village, Hoa Binh: Located in the "populated" area during the construction of the Hoa Binh hydroelectric project, Bich Tru village lost almost all of its arable land and became a lake bed village. Turning difficulties into advantages, Bich Tru people have developed Promote aquaculture and fishing, while focusing on protecting natural landscapes and preserving traditional culture to develop tourism and relaxation. Currently, 53 households in the hamlet have developed 167 cages. fish of all kinds and 4 households combining aquaculture with community tourism development.[8]

Tourism

Hoà Bình is well known for its culture and considered as the cradle of ancient culture in Vietnam. There are five ethnic groups of Muong, Thai, Mong, Tay and Dao living in this province. Besides, this land has various historic relics (184) and natural landscapes for visiting.[9]

A lot of tourist destinations that visitors can explore in Hoa Binh:

Mai Châu is the central town of Mai Châu district. It is famous for its traditional ethnic minority groups, rice terraces and green mountainous landscapes.[10] Tourists can travel by motorbike if they want to enjoy landscapes along the way, using bus or private car. It is 140-150km from Hanoi capital to this place[11]

Thung Nai is a mountainous commune under Cao Phong district considered as the 'Ha Long Bay on land'. Thung Nai has its beauty with mountains, hills, lake and breathtaking sightseeing.[12] Cao Phong is also a fertile land famous for its lush orange orchards.

Kim Bôi hotspring at Kim Bôi district is another must-see destination in Hoà Bình. It takes only 30km away from Hoa Binh city. Tourists can experience a natural mineral water with a constant temperature at 36 degree Celsius, used for drinking, bathing and good for health [13]

Hoà Bình Dam, based at Da river at its time of construction in 1979 was known as the biggest hydropower plant in Southeast Asia.[14] Visitors may visit this place as a historical and significant hydropower in Vietnam.

Administrative divisions

Hòa Bình is subdivided into 10 district-level sub-divisions and 151 commune-level sub-divisions.

Administrative divisions of Hòa Bình
Name Population Commune-level sub-divisions
City (1)
Hòa Bình 235,718 12 wards, 7 communes
District (9)
Cao Phong District 61,020 1 town, 9 communes
Đà Bắc District 80,970 1 town, 16 communes
Kim Bôi District 190,140 1 town, 16 communes
Name Population Commune-level sub-divisions
Lạc Sơn District 214,800 1 town, 23 communes
Lạc Thủy District 105,820 2 towns, 8 communes
Lương Sơn District 167,340 1 town, 10 communes
Mai Châu District 93,000 1 town, 15 communes
Tân Lạc District 233,130 1 town, 15 communes
Yên Thủy District 117,220 1 town, 10 communes

References

  1. ^ a b Biểu số 4.1: Hiện trạng sử dụng đất vùng Trung du và miền núi phía Bắc năm 2022 [Table 4.1: Current land use status in the Northern Midlands and Mountains in 2022] (PDF) (Decision 3048/QĐ-BTNMT) (in Vietnamese). Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (Vietnam). 18 October 2023. – the data in the report are in hectares, rounded to integers
  2. ^ a b "Area, population and population density by province". General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Retrieved 12 April 2024. – Interactive table which you can view by making your selection in three boxes: (1) Cities, provinces: Select all; (2) Year: Select 2022; (3) Items: Select all.
  3. ^ a b c General Statistics Office of Vietnam (2019). "Completed Results of the 2019 Viet Nam Population and Housing Census" (PDF). Statistical Publishing House (Vietnam). ISBN 978-604-75-1532-5.
  4. ^ Also called Kinh people
  5. ^ "Tình hình kinh tế, xã hội Hòa Bình năm 2018". Báo Hòa Bình, Đảng bộ tỉnh. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  6. ^ "Human Development Index by province(*) by Cities, provincies and Year". General Statistics Office of Vietnam. Retrieved September 28, 2024.
  7. ^ "Họp báo công bố số liệu thống kê kinh tế - communes hội năm 2020". Retrieved 2021-02-20.[permanent dead link‍]
  8. ^ vietnamtourism.gov.vn https://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/post/53471. Retrieved 2024-01-13. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ^ "Hoa Binh Tourism: New Opportunities". vietnamtourism.gov.vn. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  10. ^ "Travel guide Mai Chau". Vnexpress. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  11. ^ "Kinh nghiệm du lịch Mai Châu 2022 từ A-Z: cảnh đẹp, lưu trú, ẩm thực đặc sản... - VnExpress". vnexpress.net (in Vietnamese). Vnexpress. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Enjoying natural landscapes of Thung Nai". www.www.baohoabinh.com.vn. Hoa Binh news. 25 September 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  13. ^ "Kim Boi Hot Spring". www.vietnamtourism.vn (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Hoa Binh power plant, construction of the 20th century". VnExpress International – Latest news, business, travel and analysis from Vietnam. Vnexpress. Retrieved 13 December 2022.

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