Bac Giang Province

Infobox province of Vietnam
Name = Bắc Giang
Meaning = North of the River


Council Chair = Nguyễn Quốc Cường
Committee Chair = Đào Xuân Cần
Capital = Bắc Giang
Region = Northeast
Area = 3,822.7
Population = 1,563,500
Population year = 2004
Population density = 409.00
Ethnicities = Vietnamese, Nùng, Sán Chay, Sán Dìu, Hoa, Tày
Calling code = 240
ISO code = VN-54
Website = www.bacgiang.gov.vn

Bắc Giang is a province of Vietnam. It is located in the northeastern part of the country, being situated to the east of the Vietnamese capital, Hanoi.

Administration

Bắc Giang is divided into nine districts:

*Hiệp Hòa
*Lạng Giang
*Lục Nam
*Lục Ngạn
*Sơn Động
*Tân Yên
*Việt Yên
*Yên Dũng
* Thế

The provincial capital, which also known as Bắc Giang, is a separate municipality.

Geography

Bắc Giang lies not far from the Red River, but does not actually touch it.

Economy

Approximately a third of Bắc Giang’s land area is dedicated to agriculture. Increasingly, the province is becoming known as a producer of fruit, particularly pineapples and lychees. Around a quarter of Bắc Giang's land area is devoted to forestry.

History

Historically, Bắc Giang Province and the neighbouring Bắc Ninh Province were united as Ha Bac (Hà Bắc) Province. However, the population growth resulted in Hà Bắc being split into two new provinces, each based around one of the old province's two major settlements. The new Bắc Ninh Province was formed around the municipality of Bắc Ninh, while the modern Bắc Giang Province encompasses Bắc Giang Municipality and most of the old Ha Bắc Province's rural districts.

Etymology

The province's name derives from Sino-Vietnamese (Hán Tự: ), meaning "north of the river."

External links

* [http://www.bacgiangdpi.gov.vn/ Bắc Giang Province official website]