Vinh
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Vinh pronunciation is a city in Vietnam. It is located in the northern half of the country, and is the capital of Nghệ An Province. Politically, Vinh is a separate municipality within Nghệ An Province, holding a status equivalent to that of a district.
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[edit] Statistics
The population of Vinh was estimated in 2002 to be around 226,000 people. The service sector comprises the largest part of Vinh's economy, with around 55% of the working population being employed in this area. It is followed by the industrial sector (around 30%) and the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector (around 15%). Vinh is an important transportation hub, having a key position on the route between the northern and southern parts of the country. It is also a notable port.
[edit] 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. During the French occupation 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 Viet 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 Phan Bội Châu, Le Hong Phong, Nguyen Thi 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 for many Vietnamese.
[edit] Notable sites
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 Nghe Tinh Soviet Museum (commemorating the major Nghe Tinh uprising against the French in the 1930s) and the Cua Lo beach resort (a popular destination for citizens of Hanoi). Cua Lo is one of the largest stretches of beautiful white beach with very few foreign tourists and great seafood specialties.
