Binh Duong Province

Infobox province of Vietnam
Name = Bình Dương
Meaning =


Council Chair = Vũ Minh Sang
Committee Chair = Nguyễn Hoàng Sơn
Capital = Thủ Dầu Một
Region = Southeast
Area = 2,695.5
Population = 883,200
Population year = 2004
Population density = 327.7
Ethnicities = Vietnamese, Khmer, Tày, Hoa, Xtiêng
Calling code = 650
ISO code = VN-57
Website = www.binhduong.gov.vn

Binh Duong (in Vietnamese, "Bình Dương",audio|Binh Duong.ogg|pronunciation; Hán Tự: ) is a Province of Vietnam. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, immediately to the north of Hồ Chí Minh City. The province was created from Sông Bé Province on January 1, 1997.

Geography

Bình Dương Province is situated on relatively level terrain, and is crossed by the Saigon, Đồng Nai, and Bé rivers.

Economy

The area is considered to be good cropland, and agriculture is an important industry in the province. Bình Dương is also home to a significant manufacturing industry, and in the first half of 2004, the province had the second highest levels of foreign investment in Vietnam. Nike, Adidas, H&M and McDonald’s have set up factories to manufacture goods they sell locally and abroad in the province. [ [http://libcom.org/library/another-paradise-lost-strikes-and-riots-in-the-export-zones-in-vietnam-and-bangladesh-2006 (Another) Paradise Lost - Strikes and riots in the Export Zones in Vietnam and Bangladesh, 2006 | libcom.org ] ] The southern Dĩ An and Thuận An wards are highly urbanised and have eventually merged into the Hồ Chí Minh City metropolitan area.

Administration

Bình Dương is divided into six districts:

*Bến Cát
*Dầu Tiếng
*Dĩ An
*Phú Giáo
*Tân Uyên
*Thuận An

The provincial capital, Thủ Dầu Một, is a separate municipality.

Demographics

Originally, the area now known as Bình Dương was heavily forested, and was dominated by peoples of the Xtiêng, Cho Ro, Mnong, and Khmer Krom ethnic groups. In the 17^th century, however, ethnic Vietnamese settlers arrived in the region from the east. Most were peasants, seeking to escape poverty by gaining land of their own. There were also a number of refugees from a war between two feudal houses. In 1698, there were enough people in the area that a prominent Vietnamese general was sent to establish official institutions and enforce law. From that point, Bình Dương developed rapidly, with extensive clearance of forests to make room for crops. The province is now dominated by ethnic Vietnamese.

External links

* [http://www.binhduong.gov.vn/trangchu_e.asp Bình Dương Province official website]

References