Hạ Long Explained

Ha Long
Native Name:Thành phố Hạ Long
Settlement Type:Provincial city (Class-1)
Pushpin Map:Vietnam
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Vietnam
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Quảng Ninh
Government Type:People's Committee and People's Council
Leader Title:Chairman of People's Council
Leader Name:Nguyễn Thế Thịnh
Leader Title1:Chairman of People's Committee
Leader Name1:Phạm Hồng Hà
Area Total Km2:1,119.12
Population As Of:2019 census
Population Total:270,054
Population Density Km2:auto
Coordinates:20.95°N 112°W
Blank Name:Climate
Blank Info:Cwa
Native Name Lang:vi

Hạ Long (pronounced as /vi/ |) is a first-class provincial city and the capital city of Quảng Ninh province, Vietnam. It was founded in 1993, when the old capital, Hòn Gai, was merged with Bãi Cháy, the main tourist area. The city mainly lies on Hạ Long Bay, and is located at about 178km (111miles) east of Hà Nội. The city's population in 2019 was 270,054.[1] [2]

Overview

Hạ Long's economy shifted its economic focus from coal mining to tourism in 2012, due to the large number of visitors drawn by the Hạ Long Bay every year.[3] Hạ Long enjoys rapid growth not only in its own tourism sphere, but also as a destination upon the main pathway to southern China.[4] In the 2007 Vietnam-China Business Forum, a $400 million deal was signed to build a highway linking Hạ Long and the border city of Móng Cái. The highway began construction in 2015 and was completed in 2022.[5]

Hạ Long is divided into two parts. The eastern part, known colloquially as Hòn Gai, where most of the governing offices and industrial infrastructure are concentrated, is connected by a cable-stayed bridge to the western part, Bãi Cháy, known as an area for tourism.

Location

Being a coastal city, Hạ Long bears unique potentials of tourism and seaport due to its land lies along the shore of Hạ Long Bay by 50 km. Hạ Long is 160 km to the north-east from Hà Nội, 60 km to the East from Hải Phòng, 180 km to the south-west from Móng Cái international border gate, and bounded by the Gulf of Tonkin to the south. Hạ Long has strategic location of economic development, security of the region and the country.

History

Humankind has been present in Hạ Long for a long time. Archaeologists and historians concluded that during the Stone Age, there had been three cultures known as Soi Nhụ, Hạ Long and Cái Bèo, affirming that the bay and its surrounding areas were one of the cradles of mankind.[6] The heartland of today's Hạ Long is formerly a fishing village named Bãi Hàu . By the beginning of the Dynasty of Nguyễn, it was renamed to Mẫu Lệ. The current city was then part of Hoành Bồ.

In 1883, during French rule, the French carried out coal mining in the mines on the bay's coast. As many islands were populated with hemp, the French called them or a name translated from "Hòn Gai" to "Hòn Gay", and later renamed them Hòn Gai. According to the researchers, "Hòn Gai" is a deviation from the place of the French Red Sea at that time. The "H" is a silent sound when spoken in French. During this period, Hòn Gai was an administrative unit of Quảng Yên province.

After the August Revolution in 1945, this township became the capital town of the huge Hồng Gai mine area. Later in 1946, the French retook Hòn Gai. After the 1954 Geneva Conference, Hòn Gai became the capital of the special district of Hồng Quảng. On October 30, 1963, the Vietnamese government combined Hải Ninh province and Hồng Quảng to establish the province of Quảng Ninh, with Hòn Gai becoming its capital, and the province's boundaries being expanded. The Hòn Gai town center provided coal for all industrial zones of North Vietnam. It was also one of the gateways that lead to China, and as such, it was frequently targeted by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War. The Bãi Cháy ferry line (decommissioned in 2007 and replaced by the Bãi Cháy Bridge) was the most important transportation hub, was the target of many U.S. bombardments, and was awarded Hero of the People's Armed Forces three times.

On December 27, 1993, the government issued Decree No. 102/CP, where Hòn Gai officially gained city status and was renamed to Hạ Long, while also incorporating Bãi Cháy into its territory.

On December 17, 2019, the city's committee announced its intention to incorporate Hoành Bồ into its territory.[7]

Culture and society

In the south of the city lies Mount Bài Thơ with its almost vertical seaward face, which was widely traversed by a number of historically known local poets. The limestone peak is rich in biodiversity and offers attractive views of the bay. Other places of interest include the Town of Cửa Vận, Hoàng Gia Park, Hạ Long Market, Bãi Cháy Trading Center, Quảng Ninh Museum and Library, Tuần Châu island, Vietnam-Japan Cultural House, Children's Cultural House, and the Sun World complex.[8]

The city has an active Catholic church in its eastern part, Hòn Gai, on the hill near the main post office, which hosts masses every Sunday evening and on Christian holidays.[9]

Administrative divisions

The city is subdivided to 33 commune-level subdivisions, including 21 wards and 12 rural communes:

Economy

The city comprises five economic areas:

The structure of Hạ Long's economy includes: Industry-tourism, services, trading, agriculture, forestry and fishery. In 2002, city's GDP increased up to VND 1,6669.7 billion (pricing of 1994), accounting for 38% of the whole province, of which industry and construction occupy 31%, tourism and services occupy 53%; revenue collection accounts for 86.3% of the province. Annual GDP growth rate is 11.4%. GDP per capital reached US$1,070 in 2002, higher than per capita income of the country in that time.[11]

Hạ Long City has 1,470 industry and handicrafts manufacturing units, including coal mining and processing, ship building, building materials, mechanic, wood processing, food, foodstuff and garment. There are 3 industrial zones: Cái Lân (with Cái Lân Port, one of the biggest ports in North Vietnam), Đồng Đăng and Hà Khánh.

Transportation

The Van Don International Airport serves Hạ Long and the wider Quảng Ninh province. It is located approximately 50 km (31 mi) east of Hạ Long.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hạ Long (District-level City, Quảng Ninh, Vietnam) – Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location . 2024-02-07 . www.citypopulation.de.
  2. Web site: 2019-10-07 . TP Hạ Long sẽ trở thành đô thị lớn nhất cả nước . 2023-03-30 . blog.mytour.vn . vi.
  3. Web site: Hương . Thảo . 2022-10-28 . Du lịch Quảng Ninh: Một thập kỷ chuyển mình ngoạn mục . 2023-05-31 . Báo Kinh tế đô thị . vi.
  4. Web site: 2021-10-26 . Quảng Ninh: Để du lịch trở thành ngành kinh tế mũi nhọn . 2023-05-31 . vietnamtourism.gov.vn . vi.
  5. Web site: ONLINE . TUOI TRE . 2022-09-01 . Quảng Ninh thông xe cao tốc Vân Đồn – Móng Cái . 2023-05-31 . TUOI TRE ONLINE . vi.
  6. Web site: Văn hóa Hạ Long giai đoạn hậu kỳ thời đại đồ đá mới . 2023-05-31 . vntravellive.com . vi.
  7. http://vanban.chinhphu.vn/portal/page/portal/chinhphu/hethongvanban?class_id=2&_page=1&mode=detail&document_id=198702 Decree No. 837/NQ-UBTVQH14
  8. Web site: how24h . Hien . 2024-03-19 . Essential Tips for Traveling to Ha Long (How24h.com) . 2024-03-19 . vi.
  9. Web site: Du lịch Nhà Thờ Hòn Gai – ngôi nhà thờ trên ngọn đồi cao . 2023-03-30 . www.blog.mytour.vn.
  10. http://halongcity.gov.vn/pages/dieukientunhienxahoi.aspx Hạ Long's population and wards' population till 1/4/2009
  11. Hạ Long-tourist city, Hạ Long People's Committee and Hạ Long People's Council Published in 12/2003, page 40