| Geography |
Demographics |
Telephone |
Capital: Ha Giang
Region: Northeast
Area: 7,884.3 km2 |
Population: 660,700(2004)
Density: 83.80/km2
Ethnicities:Vietnamese, Tay, Dao, H'Mong, San Diu |
Calling code: 19 |
| Town and Districts |
| Dong Van, Meo Vac, Yen Minh, Quan Ba, Bac Me, Hoang Su Phi, Vi Xuyen, Xin Man, and Bac Quang |
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| General Information |
Ha Giang is a province in the north east of Vietnam. It is located in the north of the country, and contains Vietnam's northern-most point. The capital city of Ha Giang Province is 300 km away from Hanoi, located at the highest latitude in Vietnam. This province is surrounded by Cao Bang on the east, Tuyen Quang on the south, Lao Cai, and Yen Bai on the west. It shares a border with China in the north (274km boundary). Ha Giang’s complicated topography is divided into 3 areas. The area on the south has rocky mountain, separated rivers. The west area has sloping mountain side, high pass, valleys, and narrow springs. The low land area includes hills, valley of Lo River, and Ha Giang Town.
Hà Giang has many high rocky mountains (lime stone formations) and springs; the important mountains are the Cam and Mo Neo. The major rivers of the region are the Lo River (Ha Giang town is located on its left bank) and Mien River.
The topography of the province of Hà Giang is fairly complex with "temperate, but highly localized montane weather patterns create variable conditions among different regions". It has very impressive landform of limestone and granite peaks and outcrops. It has three regions. Climatically, it has two seasons, a dry and monsoon season dependent on the altitude of the region. The two northern Indochinese climatic zones on the border influence the climate in that part of the province. The lower areas in the province comprise low hills, the Lô River Valley and the town of Hà Giang. In Cao Bo district, the dry season lasts from mid-September until the end of May, and the balance period of the year is the rainy season. However, in Du Gia district the wet season set in one month earlier. The average annual temperature in the provincial city of Ha Giang City is 22.78 °C (73.00 °F); the monthly averages range from a low of 15.48 °C (59.86 °F) in January to a high of 27.88 °C (82.18 °F) in July. The annual rainfall in Ha Giang City is 2,430.1 millimetres (95.67 in); the monthly average varies from a low of 31.5 millimetres (1.24 in) in December to a high of 515.6 millimetres (20.30 in) in July. The average annual humidity level is 84%.
Hà Giang has many high mountains, including the two highest peaks, namely, the Tây Côn L?nh (2419 m) and the Ki?u Liêu Ti (2,402 metres (7,881 ft)). Hà Giang has many forests that provide valuable lumber. It has about 1000 species of herbal plants. Ha Giang's fauna include tiger, peafowl, pheasant, pangolin, and many other animals and birds.
Ha Biang town was damaged during the 1979 war with China. However, the town has been rebuilt since then.
History:
The French occupied this region in 1886, establishing their military garrison on the east bank of the Lo River and which became later in 1905 one of the four major military establishments in French Indo China in North Vietnam. The Vietnamse Dao tribals rebelled against the French colonial rule first in 1901 led by Trieu Tien Kien and Trieu Tai Loc which was quelled and the former was killed in the war. However, in 1913 Trieu Tai Loc organized another rebellion with the help of Trieu Tien Tien another member of his clan, which lasted for 2 years till 1915. Their slogan was "No Corvees, no taxes for the French; drive out the French to recover our country; liberty for the Dao." This revolt was known as the "White Hat Revolt" since the Vietnamese carried a white flag engraved with "four ideograms to Quoc Bach Ky" (meaning White Flag of the Fatherland). The rebellion spread to Tuan Quang, Lao Qai and Yen Bai. However, in 1915, the French ruthlessly suppressed the rebellion, deporting many of the rebellious Vietnamese and even sent 67 of them to the gallows.
Ha Giang was part of Tan Hung in ancient times, one of 15 b? in the nation of V?n Lang. During the Ming Dynasty occupation of Vietnam, at the start of the 15th century, it was known as the district of Binh Nguyen, before being changed to Binh Nguyen in 1473, and it was later renamed Vi Xuyen.
Before 1975, Ha Giang comprised the districts of ?ong Van, Vi Xuyen, Xin Man, Yen Minh, Hoang Su Phi, Bac Quang, Thanh Thuy and Quan Ba.
Archaeological excavations carried out near Ha Giang town at Doi Thang (Pine Hill) have established the region's antiquity to about 3000 years back. During the Bronze Age Tay Yu tribals (of the, with culturally rich traditions ruled over the region; Archaeological findings in the form of bronze drums of that age used for ceremonial purposes is traced even to its present use by the Lolo and Pu Peo tribals of the region (Meo Vac of the Ha Giang province).
Hmong Kings of Sa Phin
The history of the Hmong Kings of the northern region of the province bordering China (Dong Van and Meo Vac) is also integral to the province as the Hmong people have dominated the region from the late 18th century. The Vuong family of the Huang clan established their rule at Dong Van and Meo Vac, which was endorsed by the Nguyen Kings. During the French colonial rule, French further supported the King to keep their hold on the border territory. Vuong Chi Duc was recognized as the king of the Hmong people in 1900. A palace befitting the king was built between 1902 and 1903, at Sa Phin (16 km west of Dong Van town) by inducting Chinese architects. The King’s loyalty to the French was evident in the support that the French got from him during their campaign to put down a rebellion launched by the local tribes. In recognition, the King was given the rank of a General of the French Army (a fully uniformed King's picture is seen in the interior rooms of their palace). The increasing opposition by the Vietnamese to the French rule saw the King adopting a neutral stance. Vuong Chu Sen, who succeeded his father after the latter’s death in 1944, however, pledged support to Ho Chi Minh. The historical palace of the Vuong King was built in the traditional norms of Northeast Asian royal palaces. The palace built on the “Geomantic principles” has four double storied wings planned in 19th Century Southern Chinese town house style with “mui luyen or yin-yang tiles”. The two wings are inter-linked by three open courtyards. A moat surrounds the palace. Tombs of the royal family members, which are intricately carved in wood are located outside the palace walls. Only the walls of the buildings are made of bricks, while the other components of the buildings are made of wood
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