Vĩnh Long province: Difference between revisions

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==History==

[[File:~~Nam Ky Luc Tinh nam 1850~~.~~png~~|thumb|~~left|Six~~ ~~Provinces~~ of ~~Lower~~ ~~Cochinchina,~~ ~~and~~ ~~Bình Thuận in 1850~~]]

[[File:.|thumb| ]]

Modern-day Vĩnh Long was part of Long Hồ ”dinh” (palace, 營) established by the [[Nguyễn lords]] in 1732, comprising the provinces of [[Bến Tre province|Bến Tre]], [[Trà Vinh province|Trà Vinh]], and parts of [[Cần Thơ province|Cần Thơ]].

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Vĩnh Long province was first established in 1832 when Emperor [[Minh Mạng ]] divided Lower [[Cochinchina]] into [[Six Provinces of Southern Vietnam|Six Provinces]].<ref name=”SaiGon_GiaDinh”>{{cite web |title=Gia Định xưa và nay |url=https://pdfcoffee.com/gia-dinh-xua-va-nay-huynh-minh-pdf-free.html |website=pdfcoffee.com |publisher= Huỳnh Minh. First Published 1973 |access-date=21 January 2026 | url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|15}}

[[File:Nam Ky Luc Tinh nam 1850.png|thumb|left|Six Provinces of Lower Cochinchina, and Bình Thuận in 1850]]

By the 4th year under [[Tự Đức]] (1851), Vĩnh Long contained three prefectures: Định Viễn, Hoằng Trị, and Lạc Hóa, dividing to eight districts: Vĩnh Bình, Vĩnh Trị, Bảo Hựu, Bảo An, Tân Minh, Duy Minh, Tuân Mỹ, and Trà Vinh.<ref name=”DaiNamNhatThongChi”>{{cite web |title=Đại Nam Nhất Thống Chí – Lục Tỉnh Nam Việt – Tập Hạ |url=https://archive.org/details/dai-nam-nhat-thong-chi-ha-tu-trai-nguyen-tao/mode/2up |website=archive.org |publisher= Translator: Tu Trai Nguyễn Tạo – Nha Văn hóa, Bộ Quốc gia Giáo dục – Published 1960 |access-date=21 January 2026 | url-status=live}}</ref>{{rp|2–5}}

Province of Vietnam

Province in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Vĩnh Long (listen^ⓘ) is a province located in the Mekong Delta of southwestern Vietnam. Its provincial capital is Long Châu ward [vi]. Its population is 4,257,581 and its area is 6,296.20 km² (2,430.98 mi²).^[1] After merging with Bến Tre and Trà Vinh provinces, Vinh Long province has many large river islands, including: Bảo island [vi], Minh island [vi] and An Hoá island [vi]. The east of the province has a coastline with the East Sea.

Modern-day Vĩnh Long was part of Long Hồ dinh (palace, 營) established by the Nguyễn lords in 1732, comprising the provinces of Bến Tre, Trà Vinh, and parts of Cần Thơ.

The area saw some of the heaviest fighting between the Tây Sơn brothers and the Nguyễn lords in the late 18th century; in 1784 Nguyễn Huệ defeated Siamese forces aiding Nguyễn Ánh at the Mang Thít River.

Vĩnh Long province was first established in 1832 when Emperor Minh Mạng divided Lower Cochinchina into Six Provinces.^[4]^: 15

By the 4th year under Tự Đức (1851), Vĩnh Long contained three prefectures: Định Viễn, Hoằng Trị, and Lạc Hóa, dividing to eight districts: Vĩnh Bình, Vĩnh Trị, Bảo Hựu, Bảo An, Tân Minh, Duy Minh, Tuân Mỹ, and Trà Vinh.^[5]^: 2–5

In 1951, the Southern Resistance Administrative Committee of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam merged Vĩnh Long and Trà Vinh provinces into Vĩnh Trà province. Vinh Tra existed until 1954 (however, as North Vietnam never administered the area for a significant period of time, this arrangement was not enforced). In 1957, the South Vietnam formed Vĩnh Long province, consisting of six districts: Châu Thành, Chợ Lách (now part of Bến Tre province), Tam Bình, Bình Minh, Sa Đéc, and Lấp Vò. In 1961, Cái Nhum District was split from Chợ Lách. Đức Tôn District and Đức Thành District were added in 1962, but joined the newly formed Sa Đéc province in 1966. As of 1975, the province had seven districts: Châu Thành, Chợ Lách, Tam Bình, Bình Minh, Minh Đức, Trà Ôn, and Vũng Liêm.

After the fall of South Vietnam, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam merged Vĩnh Long with Trà Vinh province, forming Cửu Long province in 1976. In 1991, Cửu Long was again split into Vĩnh Long and Trà Vinh. At the time of the split, Vĩnh Long province consisted of one city (Vĩnh Long) and five districts: Long Hồ, Vũng Liêm, Bình Minh, Tam Bình, and Trà Ôn.

In 1992, Mang Thít District was re-split from Long Hồ District. In 2007, Bình Tân District was created.

On April 10, 2009, the Vietnamese Government issued Decree No. 16/ND-CP establishing Vĩnh Long City in Vĩnh Long Province, based on the entire natural area and population of Vĩnh Long Town.^[6]

On June 12, 2025, the National Assembly passed Resolution No. 202/2025/QH15,^[7] which took effect the same day, merging Bến Tre Province and Trà Vinh Province into Vĩnh Long Province.

Following the merger, Vĩnh Long covers 6,296.20 km² and has a population of 4,257,581.

Lying between the Hậu and Tiền rivers in the center of the Mekong Delta, Vĩnh Long is a province well known for fishing.

Administrative divisions

[edit]

Vĩnh Long is subdivided into eight district-level sub-divisions:

1 district-level town:
1 provincial city:

They are further subdivided into five commune-level towns (or townlets), 94 communes, and 10 wards.

Prawns and the Basa and Tra catfish are among the many types of fish that exist in abundance in the waters of Vĩnh Long. Its rich, fertile soil makes Vĩnh Long an ideal location for the growing of many exotic and delicious fruits, including the strange-looking mangosteen, the spikey rambutan and the pungently fragrant durian. Because of Vĩnh Long’s extensive network of waterways, these fruits and many other items can be purchased for mere pennies from the huge water-based squadron of floating merchants.

Traveling by water is a common practice here for such mundane tasks as grocery shopping as well as getting to restaurants and tourist attractions located on small islets accessible only by boat. Tourist infrastructure is still in its infancy here, but comfortable lodging and great food can be had for very reasonable prices.

Located approximately 135 kilometres (84 mi) southwest of Hồ Chí Minh City, Vĩnh Long is easily accessible by bus, van or car using National Route 1 and the Mỹ Thuận Bridge. Air travel is served by Cần Thơ International Airport which is approximately 40 kilometres (25 mi) south of Vĩnh Long. However, the province would also use Hồ Chí Minh City‘s Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport too.

An Bình Island (Cù lao An Bình), situated on the Tiền River, covers about 60 km² and is known for fertile orchards, homestays, and community-based tourism.^[8]
Notable sites include: