VIET NAM CITIES, TOWNS & VILLAGES

Bien Hoa, city in Viet Nam, on the Dong Nai River, near Ho Chi Minh City. The city is on a main railroad; manufactures include rubber and timber products, tiles, and pottery. The military airfield at Bien Hoa was the site of the initial buildup of United States air power following the Tonkin Gulf incident of 1964. During the Viet Nam War (1959-1975), Bien Hoa was headquarters for the surrounding military region. Population (1989) 273,953.

Da Nang, formerly Tourane, city, east central Viet Nam, on Da Nang Bay of the South China Sea, near Hue. A major port and an air and naval base, it lies on the coastal railroad and on a highway formerly known as the Mandarin Road. Cotton and silk spinning are the chief industries. A museum of antiquities of the Cham people is here (see Champa, Kingdom of). In 1965, during the Viet Nam War, Da Nang was the site of one of the first landings of U.S. troops in Viet Nam. An immense military complex grew up near the city, and Da Nang's population increased greatly in the late 1960s and early '70s. The name is also spelled Danang. Population (1989) 369,734.

Hai Phong, city and seaport, northern Viet Nam, on the delta of the Red River, near the Gulf of Tonkin. The port has modern facilities for handling waterborne freight and is visited by ships from various countries. Haiphong is linked to Hanoi by rail and to other inland points by roads and waterways. The chief industrial enterprises in and near the city include zinc and coal mines. Certain industrial and transportation facilities in and near the city were damaged during the Viet Nam War. Population (1989) 1,447,523.

Ha Noi, capital city of Viet Nam, in the northern part of the country, about 140 km (about 85 mi) from the Gulf of Tonkin. The city is located on the west bank of the Red River, in the middle of the fertile river delta of the same name. Second only to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) in population and economic importance in Viet Nam, Hanoi dominates the north and is the country's political center.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon, city in southern Viet Nam, on the Saigon River, near the fertile Mekong delta. The country's largest city, Ho Chi Minh City is an important commerical and economic center, with modern port facilities.

Hue, city, central Viet Nam, on the Hue River, near the South China Sea. Hue is an important trade center. The agricultural area surrounding the city produces rice. Industries include the manufacture of textiles and cement. Founded about the 3rd century BC, Hue was the capital of the Annamite Empire and the site of the imperial Annamese palace. Beyond the city walls are the tombs of past emperors. After the French established a protectorate over Annam in 1884, Hue was the capital of the protectorate until 1946. During the Viet Nam War, the Battle of Hue took place between January 31 and February 29, 1968; units of U.S. Marines and South Vietnamese troops drove North Vietnamese forces from the city. Many historical and cultural treasures were destroyed during the conflict. Population (1989) 260,489.
 

Nam Dinh, city, northern Viet Nam, on a canal between the Coi and Dai rivers in the Red River delta, near Hanoi. Nam Dinh is a road hub on a railroad and is the center of the silk and cotton industries of northern Viet Nam. Besides spinning and weaving plants, it has jute-milling, sawmilling, salt-extracting, and distilling industries. Nam Dinh is also a center of Annamese culture. Population (1989) 165,649.

Nha Trang, city, southeastern Viet Nam, capital of Phu Khanh Province, a seaport on the rugged South China Sea coast at the mouth of the Song Cai. Nha Trang was chiefly a religious center and beach resort until its port facilities were modernized in the 1970s. Timber is an important export. The Oceanographic Institute of Viet Nam (1922) is here, and four Buddhist shrines, built during the 7th to 12th centuries, are nearby landmarks. The community was established by the 3rd century AD. It was under French rule from 1862 to 1954 and was part of South Viet Nam from 1954 to 1976. During the Viet Nam War, a U.S. military base was here. Population (1989) 213,687.

My Tho, city, southern Viet Nam, capital of Tien Giang Province, an inland port in the Mekong delta. It is a transportation and commercial center for a rich agricultural region and has some manufacturing industries. My Tho was controlled by the Cambodians until it was annexed by the Annamese in the late 17th century. It was under French rule from 1862 to 1954. Population (1989) 104,848.

Pleiku, town, central Viet Nam, in the Annamese highlands. Pleiku was at the center of many critical actions of the Viet Nam War. Population (1989) 75,810.

Vinh, city in northern Viet Nam, on a fertile coastal plain near the mouth of the Song Hong River (also known as the Red River). A trade center on the coastal railroad, Vinh lies in an area in which rice, corn, timber, and livestock are grown; iron and manganese deposits are in the vicinity. Connected with the port of Ben Thuy, on the South China Sea, Vinh has railroad repair shops, a fish cannery, a sawmill, and a power plant. In 1964 United States fighter planes struck targets near Vinh in an action related to the Tonkin Gulf incident during the Viet Nam War. Population (1989) 110,652.