Sơn Tây (Hanoi)

For the district in Quảng Ngãi, see Sơn Tây District, Quảng Ngãi.

Coordinates: 21°08′N 105°30′E / 21.133°N 105.500°E

Sơn Tây
Thị xã Sơn Tây
Sơn Tây

Location of Sơn Tây in Vietnam

Coordinates: 21°8′N 105°30′E / 21.133°N 105.500°E
Country  Vietnam
Province Hanoi

Sơn Tây ( listen) is an urban district and city in Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. It was the capital of Son Tay province before merging with Ha Dong province in 1965. Son Tay lies 35 km west of the capital Hanoi and is often referred to as “soldier town” due to the proliferation of army barracks and military institutions that surrounds the town, including the Vietnamese People's Army Infantry Academy.

A U.S. military prisoner-of-war rescue attempt occurred here in the early morning hours of November 21, 1970. A special task force of Green Berets, supported by Air Force and Navy assets, raided a POW camp located in the province. The raid failed when it was discovered there were no prisoners there, but managed to depart with minimal loss in equipment and no loss of life for the raiding force.

Sơn Tây's future is seen as being very much that of a satellite city of Hanoi and as a result there are plans to relocate universities and other public facilities to Son Tay where land is cheaper and more plentiful. The government have commenced this ambitious program by duplicating the main Hanoi—Sơn Tây carriageway which was expected to be completed in 2009.

History

Sơn Tây is known for its thousand year old villages, such as Duong Lam which retains a collection of vernacular architecture with buildings and temples built using laterite bricks. Và Temple, or Đông Cung, dedicated to Tản Viên is located on a hill covered with ironwood trees in Vân Giã hamlet, Trung Hưng commune, Sơn Tây town.[1] Pham Van Son, a general was from Son Tay.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Minh Trị Lưu - Historical remains & beautiful places of Hanoi and the surrounding areas - Page 204 2000 "Và Temple locates on a hill covered with green of old-age ironwood trees in Vân Giã hamlet, Trung Hưng commune, Sơn Tây town. Và Temple is differently called Đông Cung (East palace), dedicating to God Tản Viên"

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