Khanh Hoa Province
Encyclopedia
Khánh Hòa is a province
of Vietnam
, located in the South Central Coast
. It has a population of 1,066,300 and spans an area of 5,197 km². Its capital is Nha Trang
. Khanh Hoa is the site of the last Nguyen Emperor Bao Dai
's summer home, the Pasteur Institute
of Nha Trang, the Institute of Oceanography, the Institute of Vaccines and Biological Substances, and the Green Berets
' headquarters during the Vietnam War
in the late 1950s and 1960s. Cam Ranh Bay
port is on land closest to a deep sea drop in Vietnam - the best site for submarine
bases in Vietnam. An ancient Cham
temple exists on the north side of Nha Trang.
The provincial coastline spreads from Đại Lãnh Commune to the end of Cam Ranh Bay
with a total length of coastline of 385 km featuring numerous creek mouths, lagoons, river mouths, and hundreds of islands and islets. The province also administers large territorial waters. The Spratly Islands
are part of the province's Truong Sa County. The coastline is indented by several bays, most notably the four bays Vân Phong Bay, Nha Phu Bay, Nha Trang Bay (Cù Huân) and Cam Ranh Bay
, of which Cam Ranh Bay with its area of around 200 km², encompassed by a mountain range, is regarded as one of three best natural seaports in the world. Cam Ranh Bay is strategically important and has been used as a naval base by several major powers throughout history.
Hon Doi Cliff (Mũi Hòn Đôi) on the Hòn Gốm Peninsula, Vạn Ninh District is the easternmost tip of Vietnam's mainland.
The province is mostly mountainous. The highest peak is Vong Phu Mountain (2051m) at the border to Dak Lak Province. The only large lowland area is located around Ninh Hoa
town in the north of the province. Partly as a result of this, not much land is available for agriculture. 87,100ha or 16.7% of Khanh Hoa's total area are used for farming, one of the lowest shares in the South Central Coast
. Forests cover more than half of the province's area.
The province enjoys a mild climate with an average annual temperature of 26.7°C. There are two distinct seasons: the rainy season lasts from April to December, with the other months being the dry season, except in Nha Trang
where the rainy season lasts for just two months. The average relative humidity is 80.5%. The climate on the summit of Hòn Bà Mountain (located 30 km from Nha Trang) features a climate like that of Đà Lạt and Sa Pa
.
.
Khanh Hoa had an urban population of 466,500 people or 40.7% of the total in 2007, making it the most urbanized province of the South Central Coast
. Average population growth per year between 2000 and 2007 was 1.26%, close to the average of the region. Growth was particular strong in the cities and towns (2.24%).
Kingdom before it was annexed to Đại Việt's (Viet Nam's) territory. In 1653, one of the Nguyễn lords, Nguyễn Phúc Tần, sent his troops to occupy Phan Rang. The Champa king Bà Tấm surrendered to Nguyen's troops and ceded an area from the east of the Phan Rang River to Phú Yên to the Nguyễn lord. The Nguyễn lord accepted the ceded territory and set up the Thái Khang garrison and divided it into two districts: Thái Khang and Diên Ninh.
In 1832, under the rule of emperor Minh Mạng
, this area was renamed Khánh Hòa and was divided into two districts which included four counties: Phủ Diên Khánh inclusive of Phước Điền and Vĩnh Xương county; Phủ Ninh Hòa inclusive of Quảng Phước and Tân Định county.
Under French Indochina
, the provincial capital was located in Diên Khánh Citadel, but it was relocated in Nha Trang Town in 1945.
After the communists' victory and the Fall of Saigon
on April 30, 1975, the united government merged two provinces, Phú Yên and Khánh Hòa, into Phú Khánh Province on 29 October 1975. In 1977, Nha Trang Town was upgraded to city status. In 1982, the National Assembly
decided to incorporate the Spratly Islands
into Phú Khánh Province. On June 30, 1989, the National Assembly reversed its previous decision and split Phú Khánh Province into two provinces as they were before.
). It has a relatively small agricultural sector, but strong industry and services. The province is endowed with beautiful natural landscapes and beaches, which (together with its Cham heritage) attracts a large number of tourists. Khanh Hoa has had a significant trade surplus in recent years, with exports in 2007 of 503.3 million US$ and imports of 222.5 million.
with 188,500t in 2007. However, its output of sugar cane (738,200t in 2007, 4.25% of the national figure) and cashew nuts (5238t, 1.74%) are more significant.
Khanh Hoa is one of the few provinces with a higher gross output
in fishing than in agriculture. This is mostly due to the large number of aquaculture farms in the province, which make up around two thirds of the fishing output.
is the South Central Coast's
second largest industrial center and the province in general accounts for more than one fifth of the region's industrial GDP. Food processing industries are large, especially those processing local fishing products and food for shrimp farms. Other industrial sectors produce beverages, fabric, textiles, paper, and construction materials.
Industrial production is not only in and around Nha Trang. The province has also benefited significantly from investment related to the former Russian naval base at Cam Ranh
, to which around 30 factories were attached. A major new industrial center is being developed in the north of the province around Van Phong Port
(Van Phong Economic Zone).
run through the province. All Reunification Express trains as well as some local trains stop at Nha Trang Railway Station
.
As a coastal province featuring several natural deep water bays, Khánh Hòa has what is needed to develop its deep-water seaports. Nha Trang Port (a tourist and cargo port) and Doc Let Port (a shipbuilding and logistics port) are now in use. Van Phong Port
, a megaproject
intended to be developed in Van Phong Bay by a consortium of Japanese corporations (with Sumitomo as the leading investor) with an estimated investment of US$15 billion (15*10^9) is in progress. On completion, this deep sea port will be capable of handling ships up to 100,000 tonnes and of 100 million tonnes of loaded/unloaded cargo per annum.
Cam Ranh International Airport is located in the south of the province and is one of Vietnam's busiest airports.
(formerly Nha Trang Fishery University), a multidisciplinary university; the Naval Academy; the Air Force Officer Academy; a Normal College; a Kindergarten Teacher's Training College; and an Arts and Tourism College.
Provinces of Vietnam
Vietnam is divided into 58 provinces and five centrally governed cities existing at the same level as provinces ....
of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, located in the South Central Coast
Nam Trung Bo
Nam Trung Bộ is one of the regions of Vietnam. It consists of the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng and seven other provinces. The two southern provinces Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận are sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region.The region has traditionally been one of the main gateways to...
. It has a population of 1,066,300 and spans an area of 5,197 km². Its capital is Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
. Khanh Hoa is the site of the last Nguyen Emperor Bao Dai
Bao Dai
Bảo Đại , born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy , was the 13th and last ruler of the Nguyễn dynasty. From 1926 to 1945, he was king of Annam under French ‘protection’. During this period, Annam was a protectorate within French Indochina, covering the central two-thirds of the present-day Vietnam...
's summer home, the Pasteur Institute
Pasteur Institute
The Pasteur Institute is a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines. It is named after Louis Pasteur, who made some of the greatest breakthroughs in modern medicine at the time, including pasteurization and vaccines for anthrax...
of Nha Trang, the Institute of Oceanography, the Institute of Vaccines and Biological Substances, and the Green Berets
United States Army Special Forces
The United States Army Special Forces, also known as the Green Berets because of their distinctive service headgear, are a special operations force tasked with six primary missions: unconventional warfare, foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, direct action, hostage rescue, and...
' headquarters during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in the late 1950s and 1960s. Cam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in the province of Khánh Hòa. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kilometers / 180 miles northeast of Hồ Chí Minh City / Saigon.Cam Ranh is...
port is on land closest to a deep sea drop in Vietnam - the best site for submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
bases in Vietnam. An ancient Cham
Champa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
temple exists on the north side of Nha Trang.
Geography and climate
Khánh Hòa Province has an area of 5,197 km². Its geographical coordinates are 108°40’33" to 109°27’55" E and 11°42’50" to 12°52’15" N.The provincial coastline spreads from Đại Lãnh Commune to the end of Cam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in the province of Khánh Hòa. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kilometers / 180 miles northeast of Hồ Chí Minh City / Saigon.Cam Ranh is...
with a total length of coastline of 385 km featuring numerous creek mouths, lagoons, river mouths, and hundreds of islands and islets. The province also administers large territorial waters. The Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
are part of the province's Truong Sa County. The coastline is indented by several bays, most notably the four bays Vân Phong Bay, Nha Phu Bay, Nha Trang Bay (Cù Huân) and Cam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay
Cam Ranh Bay is a deep-water bay in Vietnam in the province of Khánh Hòa. It is located at an inlet of the South China Sea situated on the southeastern coast of Vietnam, between Phan Rang and Nha Trang, approximately 290 kilometers / 180 miles northeast of Hồ Chí Minh City / Saigon.Cam Ranh is...
, of which Cam Ranh Bay with its area of around 200 km², encompassed by a mountain range, is regarded as one of three best natural seaports in the world. Cam Ranh Bay is strategically important and has been used as a naval base by several major powers throughout history.
Hon Doi Cliff (Mũi Hòn Đôi) on the Hòn Gốm Peninsula, Vạn Ninh District is the easternmost tip of Vietnam's mainland.
The province is mostly mountainous. The highest peak is Vong Phu Mountain (2051m) at the border to Dak Lak Province. The only large lowland area is located around Ninh Hoa
Ninh Hoa
Ninh Hòa is a district-level town of Khanh Hoa province in the South Central Coastal region of Vietnam. As of 2003 the town had a population of 227,630. The district covers an area of 1,199 km²...
town in the north of the province. Partly as a result of this, not much land is available for agriculture. 87,100ha or 16.7% of Khanh Hoa's total area are used for farming, one of the lowest shares in the South Central Coast
Nam Trung Bo
Nam Trung Bộ is one of the regions of Vietnam. It consists of the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng and seven other provinces. The two southern provinces Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận are sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region.The region has traditionally been one of the main gateways to...
. Forests cover more than half of the province's area.
The province enjoys a mild climate with an average annual temperature of 26.7°C. There are two distinct seasons: the rainy season lasts from April to December, with the other months being the dry season, except in Nha Trang
Nha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
where the rainy season lasts for just two months. The average relative humidity is 80.5%. The climate on the summit of Hòn Bà Mountain (located 30 km from Nha Trang) features a climate like that of Đà Lạt and Sa Pa
Sa Pa
Sa Pa , or Sapa, is a frontier town and capital of Sa Pa District in the Lao Cai province in northwest Vietnam. It is one of the main market towns in the area, where several ethnic minority groups such as Hmong, Dao , Giay, Pho Lu, and Tay live....
.
Administrative divisions
Khánh Hòa Province is divided into the following districts:- Nha TrangNha TrangNha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
(city and the capital of province) - Cam RanhCam RanhCam Ranh is a city in southern Khanh Hoa province, in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is the second-largest city in the province, after Nha Trang. It is located on Cam Ranh Bay. As of 2009 the city had a population of 125.311. and covers an area of 316 km².Cam Ranh becomes the second...
(city) - Ninh Hòa (town)
- Cam Lâm
- Diên Khánh
- Khánh Sơn
- Khánh Vĩnh
- Trường SaSpratly IslandsThe Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
(also known as the Spratly IslandsSpratly IslandsThe Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
) - Vạn Ninh
Demographics
, the province had a population of 1.147 million, of which the majority are Kinh (the dominant ethnic group in Vietnam). Minority peoples dwelling in the province are the Ra Glai, the Hoa (Han Chinese), and the Cơ HoK'Ho people
The K'Ho are an ethnic group living in the Lâm Đồng province of Vietnam's Central Highlands. They speak a Mon–Khmer language.The Lạch people, a subgroup of K'Ho, is the indigenous group of Lâm Đồng...
.
Khanh Hoa had an urban population of 466,500 people or 40.7% of the total in 2007, making it the most urbanized province of the South Central Coast
Nam Trung Bo
Nam Trung Bộ is one of the regions of Vietnam. It consists of the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng and seven other provinces. The two southern provinces Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận are sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region.The region has traditionally been one of the main gateways to...
. Average population growth per year between 2000 and 2007 was 1.26%, close to the average of the region. Growth was particular strong in the cities and towns (2.24%).
History
The site of what is now Khánh Hòa had been within the territory of the ChampaChampa
The kingdom of Champa was an Indianized kingdom that controlled what is now southern and central Vietnam from approximately the 7th century through to 1832.The Cham people are remnants...
Kingdom before it was annexed to Đại Việt's (Viet Nam's) territory. In 1653, one of the Nguyễn lords, Nguyễn Phúc Tần, sent his troops to occupy Phan Rang. The Champa king Bà Tấm surrendered to Nguyen's troops and ceded an area from the east of the Phan Rang River to Phú Yên to the Nguyễn lord. The Nguyễn lord accepted the ceded territory and set up the Thái Khang garrison and divided it into two districts: Thái Khang and Diên Ninh.
In 1832, under the rule of emperor Minh Mạng
Minh Mang
Minh Mạng was the second emperor of the Nguyễn Dynasty of Vietnam, reigning from 14 February 1820 until 20 January 1841. He was a younger son of Emperor Gia Long, whose eldest son, Crown Prince Canh, had died in 1801...
, this area was renamed Khánh Hòa and was divided into two districts which included four counties: Phủ Diên Khánh inclusive of Phước Điền and Vĩnh Xương county; Phủ Ninh Hòa inclusive of Quảng Phước and Tân Định county.
Under French Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
, the provincial capital was located in Diên Khánh Citadel, but it was relocated in Nha Trang Town in 1945.
After the communists' victory and the Fall of Saigon
Fall of Saigon
The Fall of Saigon was the capture of Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam, by the People's Army of Vietnam and the National Liberation Front on April 30, 1975...
on April 30, 1975, the united government merged two provinces, Phú Yên and Khánh Hòa, into Phú Khánh Province on 29 October 1975. In 1977, Nha Trang Town was upgraded to city status. In 1982, the National Assembly
National Assembly of Vietnam
The Constitution of Vietnam recognizes the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam as "the highest organ of state power." The National Assembly, a 493-member unicameral body elected to a five-year term, meets twice a year...
decided to incorporate the Spratly Islands
Spratly Islands
The Spratly Islands are a group of more than 750 reefs, islets, atolls, cays and islands in the South China Sea. The archipelago lies off the coasts of the Philippines and Malaysia , about one third of the way from there to southern Vietnam. They comprise less than four square kilometers of land...
into Phú Khánh Province. On June 30, 1989, the National Assembly reversed its previous decision and split Phú Khánh Province into two provinces as they were before.
Economy
With a GDP per capita of 16.1 million VND (2007), Khanh Hoa is the economically most developed province of central Vietnam (after Da NangDa Nang
Đà Nẵng , occasionally Danang, is a major port city in the South Central Coast of Vietnam, on the coast of the South China Sea at the mouth of the Han River. It is the commercial and educational center of Central Vietnam; its well-sheltered, easily accessible port and its location on the path of...
). It has a relatively small agricultural sector, but strong industry and services. The province is endowed with beautiful natural landscapes and beaches, which (together with its Cham heritage) attracts a large number of tourists. Khanh Hoa has had a significant trade surplus in recent years, with exports in 2007 of 503.3 million US$ and imports of 222.5 million.
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing
Given its lack of flat land, Khanh Hoa has a relatively small agricultural sector. Rice harvests are among the lowest in the South Central CoastNam Trung Bo
Nam Trung Bộ is one of the regions of Vietnam. It consists of the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng and seven other provinces. The two southern provinces Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận are sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region.The region has traditionally been one of the main gateways to...
with 188,500t in 2007. However, its output of sugar cane (738,200t in 2007, 4.25% of the national figure) and cashew nuts (5238t, 1.74%) are more significant.
Khanh Hoa is one of the few provinces with a higher gross output
Gross Output
Gross output is an economic concept used in national accounts such as the United Nations System of National Accounts and the US National Income and Product Accounts...
in fishing than in agriculture. This is mostly due to the large number of aquaculture farms in the province, which make up around two thirds of the fishing output.
Industry
Nha TrangNha Trang
Nha Trang is a coastal city and capital of Khanh Hoa province, on the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is bounded on the North by Ninh Hoà district, on the East by the South China Sea, on the South by Cam Ranh town and on the West by Diên Khánh district...
is the South Central Coast's
Nam Trung Bo
Nam Trung Bộ is one of the regions of Vietnam. It consists of the independent municipality of Đà Nẵng and seven other provinces. The two southern provinces Ninh Thuận and Bình Thuận are sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region.The region has traditionally been one of the main gateways to...
second largest industrial center and the province in general accounts for more than one fifth of the region's industrial GDP. Food processing industries are large, especially those processing local fishing products and food for shrimp farms. Other industrial sectors produce beverages, fabric, textiles, paper, and construction materials.
Industrial production is not only in and around Nha Trang. The province has also benefited significantly from investment related to the former Russian naval base at Cam Ranh
Cam Ranh
Cam Ranh is a city in southern Khanh Hoa province, in the South Central Coast of Vietnam. It is the second-largest city in the province, after Nha Trang. It is located on Cam Ranh Bay. As of 2009 the city had a population of 125.311. and covers an area of 316 km².Cam Ranh becomes the second...
, to which around 30 factories were attached. A major new industrial center is being developed in the north of the province around Van Phong Port
Van Phong Port
Van Phong Port is a deep water port planned for development in Van Phong Bay, north of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Van Phong Bay has a natural average depth of 22 to 27 metres and is naturally protected by the Hòn Gốm Peninsula....
(Van Phong Economic Zone).
Infrastructure
Khanh Hoa is located along Vietnam's main north-south transport corridors. National Road 1A and the North-South RailwayNorth-South Railway, Vietnam
The Vietnam North-South Railway, also known as the Reunification Express, is a railway that runs from Ha Noi to Ho Chi Minh City. The total length of this railway is , with a gauge of metre gauge...
run through the province. All Reunification Express trains as well as some local trains stop at Nha Trang Railway Station
Nha Trang Railway Station
Nha Trang Railway Station is one of the main railway stations on the North-South Railway in Vietnam. It serves the city of Nha Trang....
.
As a coastal province featuring several natural deep water bays, Khánh Hòa has what is needed to develop its deep-water seaports. Nha Trang Port (a tourist and cargo port) and Doc Let Port (a shipbuilding and logistics port) are now in use. Van Phong Port
Van Phong Port
Van Phong Port is a deep water port planned for development in Van Phong Bay, north of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam. Van Phong Bay has a natural average depth of 22 to 27 metres and is naturally protected by the Hòn Gốm Peninsula....
, a megaproject
Megaproject
A megaproject is an extremely large-scale investment project. Megaprojects are typically defined as costing more than US$1 billion and attracting a lot of public attention because of substantial impacts on communities, environment, and budgets. Megaprojects can also be defined as "initiatives that...
intended to be developed in Van Phong Bay by a consortium of Japanese corporations (with Sumitomo as the leading investor) with an estimated investment of US$15 billion (15*10^9) is in progress. On completion, this deep sea port will be capable of handling ships up to 100,000 tonnes and of 100 million tonnes of loaded/unloaded cargo per annum.
Cam Ranh International Airport is located in the south of the province and is one of Vietnam's busiest airports.
Education
Khánh Hòa is one of the most important educational centers in Vietnam. It is home to Nha Trang UniversityNha Trang University
Nha Trang University is a university in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, in Vietnam's South Central Coast. This a multidisciplinary university with 23 specialities from vocational training to doctor’s degree.-History:...
(formerly Nha Trang Fishery University), a multidisciplinary university; the Naval Academy; the Air Force Officer Academy; a Normal College; a Kindergarten Teacher's Training College; and an Arts and Tourism College.