Rach Gia

Rạch Giá () is the capital city of Kien Giang province, Vietnam. It is located around on the coast of Gulf of Thailand, 250 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City. East of city borders Tân Hiệp and Châu Thành town, Gulf of Thailand surrounds west city, south of city borders to Châu Thành and An Biên town, north of city borders to Hòn Đất and Tân Hiệp.

Name

Formally a territoy of Cambodia, the name Rach Gia is believed to derive from the Khmer language. The Khmer name for this province is Kramuon Sor.

Administrative units

Rạch Giá city was upgraded from Rạch Giá town by government decrees number 97/2005/NĐ-CP on July 26, 2005. The city has 12 administrative units:

• Vinh Thanh Van ward
• Vinh Thanh ward
• Vinh Lac ward
• Vinh Loi ward
• Vinh Quang ward
• An Hoa ward
• An Binh ward
• Rach Soi ward
• Vinh Thong ward
• Vinh Hiep ward
• Phi Thong ward

Rạch Giá city is the first city which Vietnam government applies "lan bien" project (build a new city out to the ocean to expand territory). "Lan bien" project expand the city to become one of the biggest new cities in the southwest of Vietnam. This project adds 2 more new wards in Rạch Giá. Beside that, several future construction projects such as industrial center Rach Vuot and urban city Vinh Hiep which will be started after finishing Lac Hong bridge project will expand Rạch Giá to the east.

Cultures and tourism

Ceremony of Nguyễn Trung Trực is held annually in lunar August.

Historic

National historical sites:

• Nguyen Trung Truc temple
• Tam Bao pagoda
• Vinh Hoa temple
• Huynh Man Dat grave
• Phat Lon pagoda
• Lang Cat pagoda
• Kien Giang museum
• Quan De pagoda

Other historical site:

• Tam Quan gate. This historical is the main gate and the symbol of Rạch Giá city.
• Nguyen Hien Dieu temple
• Suong council
• Bac De temple
• Thien Hau temple
• Thien Hau Palace

Transportation

Rạch Giá has 2 main stations: Rach Soi station (main routes to neighbor towns or provinces on highway 61 and 63) and Rach Gia station (main routes to Ho Chi Minh City and Hà Tiên). Those are main stations to transport passengers to other towns in provinces or other provinces in nation.

Bus transportation system is developed pretty early, passengers can use bus from Rạch Giá to 4 other towns: Châu Thành (route Rạch Giá – Tac Cau), Giồng Riềng (route Rạch Giá – Giồng Riềng), Tân Hiệp (route Rạch Giá – Kinh B), Hòn Đất (route Rạch Giá – Tam Ngan).

Currently, Rach Gia Airport is the biggest airport in Rạch Giá. Rạch Giá airport has flight routes to Phú Quốc and Ho Chi Minh City with Vietnam Airlines.

Rạch Giá has 2 big ship stations: Rạch Giá ship station or Phú Quốc ship station (routes to Phú Quốc island and other big islands such as Phú Quốc, Hon Tre, Hon Son, Tho Chu…) and Rach Meo station (route to rural towns of Cà Mau Peninsula). High speed ship is economic choice for passengers to Phú Quốc island or Kiên Hải islands.