Vinh

Vinh Thành phố Vinh
Provincial city
transcription(s)
• Quốc ngữ	Thành phố Vinh
• Chữ Nôm	城舖榮
File:VinhCollage.JPG (from top left) above Ho Chi Minh Square, Vinh skyline behind ancient gate, Vinh post office, Ho Chi Minh square, downtown Vinh
Location of the provincial city in Vietnam Location of the provincial city in Vietnam
Coordinates:
Country	Vietnam
Province	Nghệ An Province
Area
• Total	105 km2 (41 sq mi)
Population
• Total	490.000

Vinh () is the biggest city and economic and cultural center of the North Central Coast of Vietnam. Vinh is the capital of Nghệ An Province, and is a key point in the East-West economic corridor linking Myanmar, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The city is situated in the southeast of the province, alongside the Lam River (Song Lam) and is located on the main north-south transportation route of Vietnam, easily accessible by highway, railroad, boat and air. The recently expanded Vinh International Airport is served daily by three carriers: Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air, and Jetstar Pacific. On September 5, 2008, it was upgraded from Grade-II city to Grade-I city, the fifth Grade-I city of Vietnam after Hai Phong, Đà Nẵng and Huế. Vinh is the most populous city in the North Central Coastal region, with over 490,000 residents (2015 estimate). The city is bordered by Nghi Loc district to the north and east, Hung Nguyen district to the west, and Nghi Xuan district in Ha Tinh Province to the south. Vinh is about 300 kilometres (190 mi) south of Hanoi and 1,400 kilometres (870 mi) north of Ho Chi Minh City. The total area of Vinh city is 104.97 square kilometres (40.53 sq mi), and includes 16 urban wards and 9 suburban communes.

Statistics

The population of Vinh was estimated in 2015 to be 490,000 people. The service sector comprises the largest part of Vinh's economy, with around 55% of the working population being employed in this area. This is followed by the industrial sector (around 30%) and the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors (around 15%). Vinh is an important transportation hub, having a key position on the route between the northern and southern parts of the country, and is also a notable port.

History

Vinh was originally known as Ke Van. Later, this successively became Ke Vinh, Vinh Giang, Vinh Doanh, and then Vinh Thi. Eventually, in 1789, the official name became simply Vinh, probably under European influence. The name has remained the same ever since. At various times, Vinh has been of considerable military and political significance. The Vietnamese nation began in the north, and only gradually expanded to cover its current territories – as such, Vinh was sometimes seen as a "gateway to the south". The Tây Sơn dynasty (1788–1802) is believed to have considered Vinh as a possible capital of Vietnam, but the short duration of the dynasty meant that any plans did not come to fruition. Tây Sơn interest in the city did, however, result in considerable construction and development there. Under French rule of Vietnam, Vinh was further developed as an industrial centre, and became well known for its factories.

The city of Vinh was once the site of a number of significant historic sites, particularly an ancient citadel. Over the years, however, Vinh has been extensively damaged in a number of wars. In the 1950s, fighting between the French colonial powers and the Việt Minh resistance forces destroyed much of the city, and further damage was done by United States bombing in the Vietnam War. As such, little of the original city remains today. The reconstruction of Vinh borrowed heavily on Soviet and East German ideas about town planning – the city is noted for its wide streets and its rows of concrete apartment blocks.

Historically, Vinh and its surrounding areas have often been important centres of rebellion and revolutionary activity. In the 19th century and the early 20th century, the city was the centre of several prominent uprisings against the French. In addition, a number of notable revolutionary figures were born in or near the city of Vinh, including Nguyễn Du, Phan Bội Châu, Trần Trọng Kim, Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, and Hồ Chí Minh himself. Hồ Chí Minh's birthplace, some 14 kilometres to the west of Vinh, is a significant tourist attraction.

Tourism

Vinh city and the Nghe An Province are rapidly growing tourist destinations on the North Central Coast of Vietnam, and are home to various attractions. The city features several unique sites including Song Lam (Light Blue River), Ho Chi Minh Square, Phuong Hoang Trung Do (Phoenix Capital with Quang Trung King Temple), Dung Quyet Mountain with picturesque and breathtaking scenery of the Lam River, Hong Linh Mountain Rank, East Vietnam Sea and all of Vinh City. President Ho Chi Minh’s hometown, Kim Lien, is 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of Vinh in Nam Dan district. Cua Lo beach is 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) east of the center of the city, it is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. There, tourists can see the beauty of outstanding landscapes and enjoy fresh seafood dishes. Tourists can visit Hon Ngu island, the island is 4 km offshore. It consists of 2 islands: the larger stands at 133 metres (436 ft) above sea level and the smaller at 88 metres (289 ft). Pù Mát National Park, one of the largest and most well-preserved national parks in Vietnam, is located 120 kilometres (75 mi) west of Vinh. A local tour company offers guided tours of Pu Mat in English or Vietnamese, with the chance to explore Khe Kem Waterfall, Giang River boat trip, Pha Lai Dam, and “Sang Le” Forest. Nguyễn Du' homeland is 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) South of Vinh. He was a famous poem in the world with The Tale of Kieu.

Food

There are some unique dishes originating in Vinh and the surrounding areas in Nghe An and Ha Tinh, including cháo lươn (spicy eel soup), bánh mướt (steamed rice rolls), kẹo Cu Đơ (peanut rice paper candy).

People

Vinh locals are remarkably warm and hospitable, and often go at length to make visitors feel welcome. Children and adults alike are always enthusiastic and cheerful when meeting foreigners. Vinh and Nghe An locals maintain very strong cultural traditions that are a part of their provincial and national identity.

Notable sites

File:Vinh City.jpg

A street in Vinh.

File:A street in Vinh by night.JPG

A Street in Vinh by night

Other notable tourist attractions are the Hong Son Temple and Quyet Mountain. Hong Son Temple is one of the few large temples to escape the closures implemented by the Communist authorities after the war, and is the site of an important festival on the 20th day of the 8th lunar month. Quyet Mountain, on the edge of Vinh, is used as a peaceful retreat from the city, with visitors climbing four hundred steps to the summit. From the summit, the whole of Vinh may be seen, along with the river and farmland surrounding it. The mountain is covered with pine trees, although the forest is still not completely recovered from its destruction by bombing during the war. Other places of interest include the Nghệ Tĩnh Soviet Museum (commemorating the major Nghệ An uprising against the French in the 1930s) and the Cửa Lò beach resort (a popular destination for citizens of Hanoi).

Infrastructure

Airport

Vinh International Airport located at 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) North from the city center, is the fifth busiest airport in Vietnam. The airport has domestic connections to Hồ Chí Minh city, Hà Nội, Đà Nẵng, Buôn Ma Thuột, Đà Lạt, Nha Trang, Pleiku and international connections to Vientiane.

Railway

Vinh Station is a major station along the North-South Railway.

Climate

Climate data for Vinh
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	35.0 (95)	35.6 (96.1)	38.9 (102)	40.0 (104)	41.1 (106)	42.2 (108)	41.1 (106)	39.4 (102.9)	39.4 (102.9)	37.2 (99)	36.1 (97)	31.7 (89.1)	42.2 (108)
Average high °C (°F)	21.1 (70)	21.1 (70)	23.3 (73.9)	28.3 (82.9)	32.2 (90)	34.4 (93.9)	34.4 (93.9)	33.9 (93)	30.6 (87.1)	28.3 (82.9)	25.0 (77)	22.2 (72)	27.9 (82.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	18.1 (64.6)	18.6 (65.5)	20.6 (69.1)	24.7 (76.5)	28.1 (82.6)	30.0 (86)	30.0 (86)	29.7 (85.5)	27.2 (81)	25.0 (77)	22.0 (71.6)	19.5 (67.1)	24.5 (76.1)
Average low °C (°F)	15.0 (59)	16.1 (61)	17.8 (64)	21.1 (70)	23.9 (75)	25.6 (78.1)	25.6 (78.1)	25.6 (78.1)	23.9 (75)	21.7 (71.1)	18.9 (66)	16.7 (62.1)	21.0 (69.8)
Record low °C (°F)	3.9 (39)	7.2 (45)	10.0 (50)	11.7 (53.1)	15.0 (59)	20.0 (68)	22.2 (72)	18.9 (66)	17.2 (63)	15.0 (59)	8.3 (46.9)	8.3 (46.9)	3.9 (39)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	55.9 (2.201)	48.3 (1.902)	48.3 (1.902)	66.0 (2.598)	137.2 (5.402)	114.3 (4.5)	142.2 (5.598)	177.8 (7)	429.3 (16.902)	360.7 (14.201)	200.7 (7.902)	78.7 (3.098)	1,859.4 (73.205)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	11.37	11.63	11.37	8.76	9.31	7.33	6.13	9.83	12.10	13.77	11.14	8.93	119.82
Average relative humidity (%)	86	91	91	89	84	77	75	82	87	88	89	86	85.4
Mean monthly sunshine hours	70.56	48.81	70.92	136.05	229.50	214.59	229.93	196.41	178.37	139.62	102.08	92.85	1,711.84
Percent possible sunshine	20.66	15.26	19.25	36.45	57.45	54.59	57.08	50.27	49.22	39.02	30.65	27.49	39.07
Source #1: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial, Southeast Asian Climate Assessment & Dataset (sun and precipitation days 1971–2000)
Source #2: Weatherbase

External links

• Official website