Thua Thien – Hue is located in the Northern Central Vietnam with Hue city as the centre. Its eight districts include of Quang Dien, Phong Dien, Huong Thuy, Huong Tra, Phu Vang, Phu Loc, Nam Dong and A Luoi. Thua Thien – Hue stretches from 160 to 16.450 latitude and 10.30 to 108.80. lt borders Quang Tri province in the north Dang Nang City and Quang Nam province in the south with Hai Van mountain pass, people Democratic Republic of Laos in the west with Truong Son range and East River in the east. Hue is 600 km from Hanoi and 1,080 km from Ho Chi Minh City. Thua Thien – Hue is on the East – West strategic corridor where passing national road No,1AI No.49 and Ho Chi Minh road, having Ku – Tai frontier pass connecting neighbouring Laos, Chan May deep – sea port, Phu Bai alrport, etc.
Area: 5,065.3 m2
Topographic features: There is an inclination lower from the West to the East. Hills and mountains account for 70% of the total natural land area mainly found in the West. Valleys of Huong, Bo, Truoi, O Lau rivers and others create hollow tubs. There are also coastal plains and lagoons.
Administrative units: The province is divided into Hue city and 8 districts: Quang Dien, Phu Vang, Phu Loc, Phong Dien, Nam Dong, Huong Tra, Huong Thuy and A Luoi.
Population: 1,150,900 (Statistics Yearbook of 2007)
Natural resources: The province has various and plentiful mineral resources with over 100 mineral points. Major mineral found here are limestone, granite stone, kaolin, titan, peat, clay, mineral water, etc. Besides, the province has a coastal line of 128 km with 5 seaports and many seafood types (approx. 500 types of fish, shrimp, etc.), in which approx. 30-40 species of high economic value such as lobsters, butterfish, codfish, etc.
– Tourism resources: Hue city is an ancient capital with many cultural heritages which still maintain its original design. Situated in hills in the south of Huong river are beautiful mausoleums of Nguyen dynasty’s Kings, four of which are the most famous ones: Minh Mang, Tu Duc, Gia Long and Khai Dinh. There are also pagodas of 300 years old, etc.
– Human resources: The province’s workforce was 607,000, accounting for 55.6% of the total population (2007) including over 100,000 science-technology staff, accounting for 16.9%. There are higher education institutions in Hue city including 6 universities and 5 natural and social research centers.
– Transportation system: It is quite convenient to travel in/to/from the province with 2 main means of transportation which are roadway and railway. There are several national highways (1A, 49, 49B, 14) running through the province. Besides, the North-South railway route running through the province well facilitates goods and passengers transportation.
About Hue City:
Hue City
Area: 70.99 sq. km
Population: 339.8 thousand habitants (2009)
Administrative Division:
– Wards:Phu Nhuan, An Cuu, Truong An, Phuoc Vinh, Vinh Ninh, Phu Hoi, Xuan Phu, Vy Da, Tay Loc, Thuan Loc, Thuan Thanh, Thuan Hoa, Kim Long, Phu Hoa, Phu Cat, Phu Hiep, Phu Hau, Phu Binh, Phu Thuan and Phuong Duc, Huong So, An Hoa, An Dong, An Tay, Huong Long, Thuy Xuan, Thuy Bieu.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh)
Hue is one of places which have many cultural heritage. Up to now, there is no place like Hue remaining a lot of originally historical vestiges as in this ancient Capital City.
On the northern bank of Perfume River has relics consisting of palaces, which were constructed as arc defensive ramparts with 11km length. This valuable construction includes more than 100 architectural works which were extremely reflected the life of Emperors and mandarins under reign of Nguyen. Situated in the middle of hills on the southern bank of Perfume Riverare very beautiful tombs of Kings Nguyen. Among these tombs are the four famous ones with the name and the arrangements of the tomb reflected each Emperor’s points of view, personality and tastes. This is majestic Gia Long Tomb, imposing Minh Mang Tomb, poetic Tu Duc Tomb and magnificent Khai Dinh Tomb.
Hue is also an important center of Buddhism. In Hue and its surrounding still exist tens of pagodas constructed more 300 years ago, and a hundred of temples and pagodas built in the early century. Besides, Hue is a place where the royal music is originated, and a place with traditional famous dishes and sophisticated handicraft.
As a unique city of Vietnam still remains its form of City under Middle Age and the constructions of monarchic, Hue has become a big and invaluable museum. Therefore, vestiges in Hue ancient capital have been classified by the government as a very precious property and on December 1993 Hue has been recognized as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.
