| Settlement Type: | Rural District |
| Other Name: | Chân Ninh huyện |
| Native Name: | Huyện Trực Ninh |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Red River Delta |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Nam Định |
| Seat Type: | Central hall |
| Seat: | 87C8+C3V, Thích Thế Long road, Cổ Lễ township |
| Government Type: | Rural district |
| Leader Title: | People Committee's Chairman |
| Leader Name: | Phạm Trọng Duy |
| Leader Title1: | People Council's Chairman |
| Leader Name1: | Nguyễn Thanh Tùng |
| Leader Title2: | Front Committee's Chairman |
| Leader Name2: | Mai Văn Chiến |
| Leader Title3: | Party Committee's Secretary |
| Leader Name3: | Phạm Thành Trung |
| Established Title: | Establishment |
| Established Date: | 1833 |
| Area Total Km2: | 143.95 |
| Population As Of: | 2022 |
| Population Total: | 178,103 |
| Population Density Km2: | 1,237 |
| Timezone: | Indochina Time |
| Utc Offset: | +7 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP code |
| Postal Code: | 07606 |
| Website: |
Trực Ninh [ʨɨ̰ʔk˨˩:nïŋ˧˧] is a rural district of Nam Định province in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam.
Since the Sui Dynasty, this area belonged to a fairly large administrative unit called Tây Chân rural district (Tây Chân huyện). When the Trần Dynasty was founded, Tây Chân belonged to Thiên Trường prefecture. Its name implies that it was the periphery of a small urban complex called Tức Mặc village, where officials and aristocrats were concentrated.
In the Revival Lê Dynasty, because its name coincided with the title of Lord Trịnh Tạc, it was changed to Nam Chân rural district (Nam Chân huyện).
By the 14th year of Minh Mệnh (1833), Nam Chân rural district was separated into Nam Chân and Chân Ninh. About the year of Tự Đức, Chân Ninh rural district (Chân Ninh huyện) was changed as Xuân Ninh rural district (Xuân Ninh huyện). Since the years of Thành Thái, it was continued to change as Trực Ninh rural district (Trực Ninh huyện). During the Nguyễn Dynasty, some parts in the East of this rural district were transferred to Hải Hậu.
On March 26, 1968, according to Decision 41-CP of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, the two rural districts of Nam Trực and Trực Ninh re-merged into Nam Ninh rural district (huyện Nam Ninh).
From 1971 to 1996, the number of communes continuously decreased due to the merger.
On February 26, 1997, to implement Decree 19/NĐ-CP of the Government of Vietnam, Nam Ninh rural district was re-divided into two new districts : Nam Trực and Trực Ninh.
As of 2003, the district had a population of 196,765.[1] The district covers an area of 143 km2. The district capital lies at Cổ Lễ.[1]