| Cao Bang province Tỉnh Cao Bằng |
|
|---|---|
| — Province — | |
| Nickname(s): High Plateau | |
| Location of Cao Bằng within Vietnam | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Vietnam |
| Region | Northeast |
| Capital | Cao Bằng |
| Government | |
| • People's Council Chair | |
| • People's Committee Chair | |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6,724.6 km2 (2,596.4 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | |
| • Total | 528,100 |
| • Density | 78.5/km2 (203.4/sq mi) |
| Demographics | |
| • Ethnicities | Tày, Nùng, Dao, H'Mông, Vietnamese, Hoa, Sán Chay |
| Time zone | ICT (UTC+7) |
| Calling code | 26 |
| ISO 3166 code | VN-04 |
| Website | www.caobang.gov.vn |
Cao Bằng () is a province of northeastern Vietnam. The province has borders with Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, Bắc Kạn, and Lạng Sơn provinces within Vietnam. It also has common international border with Guangxi province of the People's Republic of China. The province covers an area of 6724.6 square kilometres and as of 2008 it had a population of 528,100 people.[1]
It has a rich history traced to the Bronze Age of the Tay Au Kingdom in Vietnam. The dynasties that ruled the area were Tay lords, Be Khac Thieu and Nag Dac Thai.
The province is in the region where the Vietnamese people lived thousands of years ago before their southwards expansion. Thus, Cao Bằng has several points of historical interest as well as many natural features such as the Pac Bo (at the mouth of the confluence of two rivers namely Bang Giang and Hien rivers) where Ho Chi Minh in January 1941 established a revolutionary force at a cave (Coc Bo Cave), the Mạc King's Temple, the Kỳ Sầm Temple, Coi Bin Church, the Bản Giốc waterfall area at the international border between Vietnam and China and the Thang Hen Mountain Lake.
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Cao Bằng's proximity to China has meant that it has had a somewhat turbulent history, having changed hands a number of times. The Âu Việt were a conglomeration of upland tribes living in what is today the mountainous region of northernmost Vietnam, western Guangdong, and southern Guangxi, China, since at least the 3rd century BC. Their capital was located in what is today the Cao Bang Province of northeastern Vietnam.[2] What is now the Vietnamese provinces of Cao Bằng and Lạng Sơn were known as châu Quảng Nguyên during the time of the Lý and Trần Dynasties. Quảng Nguyên became part of Đại Việt in 1039, when emperor Lý Thái Tông expelled Nùng Trí Cao, a Nùng leader, from the area.[3]
Cao Bang's prelude of a rich history is thus traced to the Bronze Age when the Tay Au Kingdom flourished. They had shifted their capital to Co Loa in Red River Delta but the Vietnamese culture dominated. The Kings fortified their territory around the 10th century due to its proximity to the Chinese border. The feudal dynasties that ruled the area were Tay lords, Be Khac Thieu and Nga Dac Thai. In the 1430s, the Le Dynasty had many rebellions. Royalty faced strong revolt during the 16th and early part of 17th century – Mac Dang Dung initially occupied the territory and the Le throne in 1527. However, the Le kings were reinstated in 1592. Still, the war for control of the region continued and Mac family had the upper hand as they declared it an independent region and ruled for 75 years. As witness to this period, here lie ruins of a temple, which was also the palace of the Mac Kings. It can be seen in the town of Cao Binh, which is located about 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) north of the Cao Bang town.[2][3]
Cao Binh was a prominent administrative town until the French occupied the territory. However, the capital was shifted to the Cao Bang peninsula when the French conquered the area in 1884. They fortified the town with a fort on a hill overlooking the town (ruins of this fort are seen even now). This fort area is now a high security zone of the People’s Army of Vietnam.[2][3]
Cao Bằng has a rich history of revolutionaries and nationalists. The significant history of the peninsula to the present regime is recorded from the 1920s when it became the “cradle of the revolutionary movement in the north.” Many pro-independence groups based themselves in the mountains. The Communist Party of Vietnam chose the province as a base, using the rough terrain as protection. Its historicity was further accentuated when Ho Chi Minh, on his return from China in exile in 1941, made his headquarters at Pắc Bó, in Trường Hà commune, Hà Quảng district, 56 kilometres (35 mi) north of Cao Bang for the decisive revolutionary movement between 1940 and 1945.[4]
In 1950, the province had 10 districts: Bảo Lạc, Hạ Lang, Hòa An, Nguyên Bình, Phú Thạch, Phục Hòa, Quảng Uyên, Thạch An, Trấn Biên and Trùng Khánh.In 1958, Trấn Biên was renamed Trà Lĩnh. The district of Thông Nông was created out of part of the district of Hà Quảng by Decision 67-CP on April 7, 1966. The districts of Phục Hòa and Quảng Uyên were merged to become Quảng Hòa by Decision 27-CP on March 8, 1967. The district of Hạ Lang was abolished and integrated into the districts of Quảng Hòa and Trùng Khánh by Decision 176-CP on September 15, 1969.[2][3]
In December 1978, the two districts of Ngân Sơn and Chợ Rã were transferred from the province of Bắc Thái to Cao Bằng by a decree of the congress of the Communist Party. This meant that Cao Bằng had 11 districts: Bảo Lạc, Hà Quảng, Hòa An, Nguyên Bình, Quảng Hòa, Thạch An, Thông Nông, Trà Lĩnh, Trùng Khánh, Ngân Sơn and Chợ Rã. The district of Chợ Rã was renamed Ba Bể by Decision 144-HĐBT on November 6, 1984.[3]
On February 27, 1979, during the Sino-Vietnamese War, Chinese infantry entered the city of Cao Bang and occupied it, and inflicted a scorched earth policy, levelling most of the city, including places of worship.[5] The historical areas near the Pác Bó caves in the commune of Trường Hà in Hà Quảng district were mined and bombed, demolishing most of the cave mouth where Ho Chi Minh based his guerrilla activities in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1996, the districts of Ngân Sơn and Ba Bể were transferred into the newly-created province of Bắc Kạn. The district of Bảo Lâm was created by carving out a portion of Bảo Lạc district, in accordance with Decree 52/2000/NĐ-CP on September 25, 2000.[2][3]
There is a legend that is narrated to the first rulers of Vietnam, dated to 2838-2698 BC which corresponds to the Phùng Nguyên culture traced to a small settlement in Bac Bo (North Vietnam). According to this legend, De Minh the great grand son of the Chinese emperor Shen Nung married an immortal in Honan Province. Their youngest son Loc Tuc was appointed to rule over Xich Quay which included, apart from territory in China, North Vietnam. Loc Tuc’s son then married the daughter of King De Lai, Princess Au Co. They had 100 sons and as per the prevailing societal custom of the Vietnamese which was matriarchal, De Lai lived with his mother while his 100 sons were under the care of his wife. Suddenly one day De Lai announced to his wife that he belonged to the race of dragons and she to the race of the Immortals and that he would henceforth they could not live together. He thereafter moved to south sea with his 50 sons and his wife moved to the hills in China with the other 50 thus ushering a shift in the social culture of Vietnam, from matriarchal to patriarchal, and this separation is said to be the first divorce in Vietnam. It is conjectured that the hundred sons who were thus “scattered across the south of China were the Pai Yueh (Hundred Vietnamese).”The brave sons of Lac Long Quan who inherited the kingdom took the title of Hung Vuong (Brave King) and founded the Hong Bang Dynasty, which lasted from 2879 BC to 258 BC. The name of the Kingdom was changed to Van Lang, a tribal totem.
The kingdom went through a series of changes with turbulent history, having changed hands a number of times and Âu Việt came to existence with Cao Bang as its capital. This legend is linked to the present day Cao Bằng's, which is at the border with China.[2]
Cao Bằng Province located in the northern part of the country has borders with Hà Giang, Tuyên Quang, Bắc Kạn, and Lạng Sơn provinces within Vietnam. It also has common international border with Guangxi province of the People’s Republic of China. The main town is also named Cao Bằng.[6]
The geographical setting of the province is mostly mountainous, with land available for habitation thus being limited. The average temperature reported in the province is 22 °C (72 °F). Winter temperatures in some areas occasionally experience freezing conditions and some amount of snowfall. The Bản Giốc Waterfall which is on the border with China is a well known natural feature in the province.[6]
Cao Bằng is a province in northeastern Việt Nam. The northern and northeastern part of the province borders Guangxi in China, and the frontier is 322 kilometres (200 mi) long. The western side of Cao Bang borders Tuyên Quang and Hà Giang Provinces. The southern side of Cao Bang borders the provinces of Bắc Kạn and Lạng Sơn. The north-west expanse of the province is 80 kilometres (50 mi), from Trọng Con in Thạch An district to Đức Hạnh in Bảo Lâm district). It stretches170 kilometres (110 mi) from east to west, from Quảng Lâm in Bảo Lâm district to Lý Quốc in Hạ Lang district. Cao Bằng has an area of 6,724.6 square kilometres (2,596.4 sq mi) (2008 figures). Mountainous forests take up more than 90% of the province.
The Peninsular valley of the Cao Bằng Province is formed between the Bang Giang and Hien rivers. The two rivers confluence to the northwest of the town. In the war with China the town was damaged in 1979 and has been since rebuilt. The market in Cao Bang town is stated to be the largest in Vietnam.[7]
Cao Bang town is located on Highway 3 and is 270 kilometres (170 mi) from Hanoi. The road from Nao Pac to Cao Bang passes through the scenic Cao Bac Pass. Since the elevation of the town is 300 metres (980 ft) it has salubrious temperate climate throughout the year.[7]
The province of Cao Bằng is home to many people belonging to Vietnam's ethnic minority groups. The most notable of these are the Tày, Nung, Dao, and Hmong.
According to the General Statistics Office of the Government of Vietnam, the population of Cao Bang province as on 2008 was 528,100 with a density of 79 persons per km2 over a total land area of 6,724.6 square kilometres (2,596.4 sq mi) of the province. It is one of the least populated provinces in the Northern midlands and mountain areas of Vietnam.[8] The male population during this period was 256,300 [9] with females accounting for 271,800.[10] The rural population was 445,100 against an urban population of 83,000 (about 5% of the rural population).[11][12]
Cao Bằng is divided into: one town municipality (thị xã) Cao Bằng and 12 rural districts (huyện): Bảo Lạc District, Bảo Lâm District, Hạ Lang District, Hà Quảng District, Hòa An District, Nguyên Bình District, Phục Hòa District, Quảng Uyên District, Thạch An District, Thông Nông District, Trà Lĩnh District, and Trùng Khánh District, four precincts, 14 towns under districts and 181 communes.[13]
| Name | Division type | Population (2003) | Area (km²) | Towns (huyện lỵ or thị trấn) (bold) and communes (xã) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cao Bằng | Township (thị xã) | 51,386[14] | 55[14] | Wards (phường): Hợp Giang, Tân Giang, Sông Bằng, Sông Hiến, Hoà Chung, Ngọc Xuân, Duyệt Chung, Đề Thám. |
| Bảo Lạc District | District (huyện) | 47,019[14] | 919[14] | Bảo Lạc, Sơn Lộ, Đình Phùng, Hưng Đạo, Huy Giáp, Hồng An, Xuân Trường, Khánh Xuân, Phan Thanh, Hồng Trị, Cô Ba, Bảo Toàn, Cốc Pàng, Thượng Hà, Hưng Thịnh, Sơn Lập, Kim Cúc. |
| Bảo Lâm District | District (huyện) | 107,279[14] | 1457[14] | Pác Miầu, Mông Ân, Thái Học, Thái Sơn, Nam Cao, Nam Quang, Tân Việt, Yên Thổ, Quảng Lâm, Thạch Lâm, Lý Bôn, Đức Hạnh, Vĩnh Quang, Vĩnh Phong |
| Hạ Lang District | District (huyện) | 26,330[14] | 463[14] | Hạ Lang, Thị Hoa, Thái Đức, Cô Ngân, Vinh Quý, Việt Chu, Quang Long, An Lạc, Kim Loan, Đức Quang, Thắng Lợi, Minh Long, Đồng Loan, Lý Quốc, Thanh Nhật |
| Hà Quảng District | District (huyện) | 34,113[14] | 454[14] | Sóc Hà, Trường Hà, Kéo Yên, Lũng Nặm, Vân An, Cải Viên, Tổng Cọt, Nội Thôn, Hồng SĨ, Sĩ Hai, Mã Ba, Hạ Thôn, Phù Ngọc, Đào Ngạn, Xuân Hoà, Quý Quân, Nà Sac, Thượng Thôn, Vần Dính |
| Hòa An District | District (huyện) | 72,104[14] | 656[14] | Nước Hai, Dân Chủ, Đức Long, Công Trừng, Trương Lương, Bình Long, Nam Tuấn, Đại Tiến, Đức Xuân, Ngũ Lão, Bế Triều, Vĩnh Quang, Hồng Việt, Hoàng Tung, Bình Dương, Bạch Đằng, Lê Chung, Chu Trinh, Hà Trì, Quang Trung, Nguyễn Huệ, Hưng Đạo |
| Nguyên Bình District | District (huyện) | 39,153[14] | 837[14] | Nguyên Bình, Tĩnh Túc, Thịnh Vượng, Hoa Thám, Lang Môn, Tam Kim, Hưng Đạo, Quang Thành, Thành Công, Phan Thanh, Mai Long, Ca Thành, Vũ Nông, Yên Lạc, Triệu Nguyên, Thể Dục, Thái Học, Minh Thanh, Bắc Hợp, Minh Tâm |
| Phục Hòa District | District (huyện) | 102,974 [14] | 263[14] | Hòa Thuận, Tà Lùng, Mỹ Hưng, Hồng Đại, Cách Linh, Triệu Ẩu, Đại Sơn, Tiên Thành, Lương Thiện |
| Quảng Uyên District | District (huyện) | 42,544[14] | 383[14] | Quảng Uyên, Bình Lăng, Cai Bộ, Chí Thảo, Đoài Khôn, Độc Lập, Hồng Định, Hạnh Phúc, Hồng Quang, Hoàng Hải, Phúc Sen, Phi Hải, Quốc Phong, Quảng Hưng, Quốc Dân, Tự Do, Ngọc Động |
| Thạch An District | District (huyện) | 31,942[14] | 683[14] | Đông Khê, Đức Long, Danh Sĩ, Lê Lợi, Đức Xuân, Trọng Con, Lê Lai, Thụy Hùng, Thị Ngân, Vân Trình, Thái Cương, Đức Thông, Quang Trọng, Minh Khai, Canh Tân, Kim Đồng |
| Thông Nông District | District (huyện) | 23,116[14] | 360[14] | Thông Nông, Bình Lãng, Thanh Long, Lương Can, Yên Sơn, Đa Thông, Lương Thông, Vị Quang, Cần Yên, Cần Nông, Ngọc Động |
| Trà Lĩnh District | District (huyện) | 21,600[14] | 257[14] | Hùng Quốc, Tri Phương, Cô Mười, Quang Hán, Quang Vinh, Lưu Ngọc, Cao Chương, Quốc Toản, Xuân Nội, Quang Trung |
| Trùng Khánh District | District (huyện) | 50,189[14] | 469[14] | Trùng Khánh, Đàm Thủy, Chí Viễn, Phong Châu, Cao Thăng, Đoàn Côn, Thân Giáp, Thông Huề, Đức Hồng, Trung Phúc, Cảnh Tiên, Đình Minh, Đình Phong, Ngọc Khê, Ngọc Chung, Phong Nậm, Lăng Yên, Khâm Thành, Lăng Hiếu |
Cao Bằng is relatively poor compared to other Vietnamese provinces. Most of the province's economy is centered on agriculture and forestry, although other industries exist. Facilities such as schools and hospitals tend to be in poor condition, but are gradually improving. Transportation, once a major problem, has been improved considerably by new road construction.
As against the national figure of 7592 of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery cooperatives there are only 4 cooperatives in the province; all are agricultural cooperatives.[15][16] There are only 57 farms compared to the national total of 120,699.[17]
The output value of agriculture produce at constant 1994 prices in the province was 676.6 billion đồngs against the national value of 156,681.9 bill. dongs.[18] In 1994 the province produced 151,800 tonnes of cereals compared to the national production of 229.1 million tonnes [19] The per capita production of cereals in the district was 448.6 kg as against the national figure of 501.8 kg in 2007.[20] In 2007, the industrial output of the province was a meagre 571.8 bill. dongs against the national output of 1.47 million billion dongs.[21]
As the province is in the region where the Vietnamese people lived thousands of years ago before their southwards expansion, Cao Bằng has several points of historical interest as well as many natural features.
Pac Bo, located at the mouth of the confluence of two rivers namely Bang Giang and Hien rivers. Its historicity is due to the fact that Ho Chi Minh, on his return from China (where he had lived for 30 years) on January 28, 1941 established a revolutionary force at a cave near Pac Bo valley inhabited by the Nung tribes. He organized the revolutionary movement by training the cadres, translated the History of Communist Party in the USSR into the Vietnamese language and also edited a revolutionary news paper called the 'Independent Vietnam' from Pac Bo. The Vietnam Independence League (Vietnam Doc Lap Dong Minh Hoi) known by its short form as Viet Minh was established here during the Eighth Congress of the Communist Party Central Committee held at Pac Bo from 10–19 March 1941. The guerilla activity spread throughout Vietnam.
The war period between 1941 and 1945 till the Japanese left, the war was a period of great turmoil in Vietnam; the Japanese had set up King Bai as the head of state to counter the influence of the French government and the Viet Minh had established themselves their rule in six provinces in North Vietnam in the Red River delta. Following the surrender of Japan on 13 August 1945 in World War II, Ho Chi Minh had expanded the ambit of his "August revolution" to Hanoi, Hue and Saigon, the King Bao dai abdicated. Ho Chi Minh declared independence of Vietnam and addressed the nation from Hanoi on September 2, 1945. The Pac ba Vestiges Area Exhibition Centre has an array of display of artifacts of the revolution with a Ho Chi Minh House of Remembrance. A stream and a hill near Pac Bo were named as 'Lenin Stream' and 'Karl Marx Mountains'.[22]
Ky Sam Temple was built as a memorial at Nung village (200 metres (660 ft) east of Highway 203) of Ngan in honour of Nung Tri Coa, Nung Lord of Quang Uyen for organizing the ethnic minority revolt in the 11th century against the Vietnamese monarchy. The first effort at rebellion against the King Le Thai Tong was started by Nung Tri Coa's father Nung Ton Phuc and elder brother Nung Tri Thong. This failed and both of them were caught and executed. Two years later Nung Tri Coa mobilised rebellion army and captured the territory and declared himself as the king of the Nung Kingdom and named it as Dai Lich. However, this occupancy was short-lived as he was captured by Viet forces. He was, however, let go by the King and allowed to return to Quang Uyen. Six years later he again launched a rebellion against the king in 1048 and captured the territory in southern China and declared himself as the "Emperor of Dai Nam." His kingdom survived for 5 years by manipulation of the King of China and the King of Viet. However, in 1053 the Vietnamese king Le Thai Tong finally captured Nung Tri Coa and executed him. The temple built in his honour, though ancient, is now a refurbished monument (renovated in 19th century) consisting of two buildings. The outer building has the altar of one his generals and the inner shrine housed the images of the Nung Tri Coa, his wife and his mother till they were stolen a few years ago. An inscription still seen here narrates Nung Tri Coa's war exploits and his avowed commitment to the cause of his nation.[23]
Coi Binh Church is one of the three churches that was built in 1906 by the French; the other two are at Cao Bang and That Khe. Except for the Vicar's house the rest of the residential buildings around the church were destroyed in 1979. The Vicar's house is now the venue of "Cao Bang regions most famous apiaries." [24]
Mac King's Temple is the 16th century palace of the Mac Dynasty. It is located on a hill top above the Lang Den (meaning the "Temple Village"). It is located on the west bank of the Dau Gen River, which is a tributary of the Bang Giang River. The construction of this palace is credited to a general of the Le Army in 1521-1522 after he forcibly dethroned the 11 year King Le Chieu Tong, exiled him and installed his brother Le Thung as the king. However, two years later Le Chieu Tong was reinstalled as the King of Dai Viet. The Mac Dynasty then ruled for 65 years. The Le dynasty continued to fight the Mac Kings and finally succeeded to regain power in 1592 for a short time with the help of the powerful Trin family. A nephew of Mac Mau Hop took control of Cao Bang and three generations of his family ruled for 75 years till the armies of the Trin family captured Cao Bang in 1667. The small palace building has canons placed near the main entranc even nowe.[24]
Cao Bằng, which lies on the Quây Sơn River, in Ngọc Khê commune, in Trùng Khánh district has many mountains, forests, rivers and springs throughout. The area near Bản Doc Waterfall is a well known scenic tourist site. The city of Cao Bằng had many buildings of World War II vintage of French design, which were in ruins, but since rebuilt. There is an 'Exhibition Centre' in the town where the history of the revolutionary struggle in Vietnam, which originated in this province, is displayed along with a vintage car of Ho Chi Minh, bearing registration number 'BAC 808.'[7]
Bản Giốc Waterfalls is located 80 kilometres (50 mi) to the north of Cao Bang at the Vietnam China International Border. It originates from the Quy Xuan River and falls over a height of 30 metres (98 ft) and is300 metres (980 ft)wide At the top, the waterfall is seen in three parts divided by rocks and trees. As the water falls down the cliff and merges with sunlight, a seven-coloured rainbow formation is witnessed. Many green trees and flowers that perfume the air are located at the base of the fall.[25][26]
The Ban Gioc waterfall area at the international border between Vietnam and China is stated to be "among areas having a borderline defined on rivers and streams". It has been clarified by the Head of the Border Committee that the borderline of the fall shall be as fixed along the median of the main flow which shall be done jointly by both sides.[27] Even though in Vietnam the two falls are considered as one fall with the name Bản Giốc, the physical fact is that the water fall is named under two ownership divisions namely, "Detian - Banyue Falls" (Chinese: 德天瀑布 & 板約瀑布) or "Ban Gioc Falls" (Vietnamese: thác Bản Giốc). ).[Note 1][28]
This water fall is the 4th largest waterfall along a national border in the world, the other three are the Iguazu Falls, the Victoria Falls, and the Niagara Falls in that order. It was also one of the crossing points for China’s army during the brief Sino-Vietnamese War. Nearby there is the Tongling Gorge accessible only through a cavern from an adjoining gorge. Rediscovered only recently, it has many species of endemic plants, found only in the gorge. This cave was a hideout for the local bandits whose treasure is occasionally still found in the cliff-side caves. Ban Gioc Fall is also famous for the fish species “tram huong.” During the 1920s, this was a hunting and fishing location for the French who built cottages for the purpose.[29]
Cac Bo Cave is the cave where Ho Chi Minh lived on his return from China and launched his revolutionary movement.[30]
Thang Hen Mountain lake, in Trà Lĩnh district, consists of 36 small natural lakes located on the top of a hill at 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) elevation. The lakes have been created in limestone formations and some of them flow out as steams. An unusual feature of the lakes is that their water level fluctuates like the tides of the seas, which phenomenon is attributed to the springs of water emerging from artesian wells in lime stone formations. The lakes flow through the river, which eventually becomes the Ban Gioc waterfall.[26]
| Guangxi, China | ||||
| Ha Giang province | ||||
| Cao Bang province | ||||
| Bac Kan province | Lang Son province |
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