Tây Bắc (literally "Northwest") is one of the regions of Vietnam, located in the mountainous northwestern part of the country. It consists of six provinces: Điện Biên, Lai Châu, Sơn La, Hòa Bình, Lào Cai and Yên Bái are usually seen as part of the Northwest region. It has a population of 4.9 million (2022) and it is fully landlocked.
Geography
Further information on the mountain range: Sông Mã Range
History
A large area of the region was previously a part of the Sip Song Chau Tai, Tai-Meo Autonomous Region, which was dissolved in 1954. It was renamed the "Northwest Autonomous Region" (Khu Tự trị Tây Bắc) in 1961, in order to not highlight just two of the many ethnic groups in this zone. The autonomy was rescinded after the Fall of Saigon of 1975.[4][5]