Thai Nguyen City: 50 Years of Construction and Development

More than 180 years ago, the first foundation bricks for Thai Nguyen City were laid by King Minh Mang. But the real breakthrough came to Thai Nguyen on October 19, 1962 when the Prime Minister decided to upgrade Thai Nguyen Town to Thai Nguyen City.

 

Thai Nguyen City - the capital of Thai Nguyen province - has rich culture and history. After being recognised as a second-grade urban zone, the city has flourished and reached important achievements in all fields to approach the status of first-grade urban zone and become the centre of politics, economy and culture of Thai Nguyen province and the northern midland and mountainous region.

 

Located adjacent to Hanoi and the Red River Delta, this convenient position creates tremendous momentum for the impressive economic growth of Thai Nguyen. Thai Nguyen City is not only known as the first centre of heavy industries (metallurgy) in the country, but also the dynamic regional development centre and a leading urban zone in northern Vietnam.

 

Thai Nguyen province’s socioeconomic development indicators lead the 14 provinces in the northern midland and mountainous region. Thai Nguyen City alone contributes nearly 50 per cent of the province's production value and over two-thirds of industrial production value. Only a few leading economic indicators are already enough to represent the city's development and status of the centre of the northeast region. Its GDP growth averages 14.6 per cent a year. GDP per capita reached VND37 million (US$1,800) in 2011, an increase of VND7 million from 2010. In recent years, Thai Nguyen has attracted a lot of domestic and foreign investors to do business. In 2009, the city was named the Top 10 Cleanest and Nicest Cities in Vietnam by the Vietnam Cities Association.

 

Trade centre and office complexes like Thai Nguyen Trade Twin Towers, Cactus Township, Song Cau Riverside Township, Hoang Van Thu and Bac Son Town, Intelligent City, and Nui Coc Lake tourist site will create bright highlights and strong internal resources for the robust development of Thai Nguyen City, richly imbued with dynamism and humanity.

 

Not only strongly developing in economy and knowledge, Thai Nguyen City gathers valuable rich natural and humanity values. From a small town in the French colonial period, Thai Nguyen has become a vast city. Thai Nguyen has been built and developed into a metallurgical and mechanical centre with the country’s first and largest Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Industry Zone. The city is the largest education and training centre of the country after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It is home to many universities, vocational schools, and scientific research facilities, with a large force of scientists and skilled technical workers. Nearly 30 universities, colleges and vocational training schools engaged in education, agriculture, health, economics and industry are located in the city, making it the source of scientists, technicians and researchers, and the centre of technology transfer for the northern midlands and mountainous region.

 

Thai Nguyen tourism is well-known for its famous Nui Coc Lake tourist complex and nearly 100 historic sites, including Doi Can Temple complex, Thai Nguyen Prison and Gia Sang defence line which were recognised as national historical sites. These places marked an event that motivated the entire nation and shocked France and its colonies. The Thai Nguyen uprising broke out in Thai Nguyen Town in 1917 under the leadership of Doi Can and Luong Ngoc Quyen.

 

Together with the widespread popularity of Nui Coc Lake, Thai Nguyen City is also famous for the “Best tea on earth.” Tan Cuong tea is known to consumers in the country and in the world. The city has zoned a centralised planting area for Tan Cuong specialty tea and has Tan Cuong tea brand name and geographical indication protected. Tea-growing Tan Cuong commune in Thai Nguyen City is also a place of interest for Vietnamese and international tourists.