Hòa Bình Province


Hòa Bình is a mountainous province of Vietnam, located in the nation's Northwest region. It borders Phú Thọ Province and Sơn La Province to the northwest, Hanoi to the northeast, Hà Nam Province to the east, Ninh Bình Province to the southeast and Thanh Hóa Province to the south. In 2004, the GDP per capita of the province was estimated to be $228.

Administrative divisions

Hòa Bình is subdivided into 10 district-level sub-divisions:
They are further subdivided into 11 commune-level towns, 191 communes, and eight wards. Among them, Mai Châu district is the region with the most potential for economic and tourism development of Hòa Bình province.
The People's Council of Hòa Bình Province decided in February 2006 to make Hòa Bình the capital of the province.

History

Hòa Bình Province was created on June 22, 1886, following the decree of Tonkin with the name "Mường Province", splitting Mường majority areas from Hưng Hóa Province, Sơn Tây Province, Hanoi and Ninh Bình Province. Its name derives from the Sino-Vietnamese, meaning "peace."
The province was administered from Chợ Bờ, hence it was also known as "Chợ Bờ Province", until in November of the same year, it was relocated to Phương Lâm District. In April 1888 it was renamed "Phương Lâm Province" by the French colonial authorities.
On March 18, 1891, the Governor-General of French Indochina decreed that the name of the province would change to Hòa Bình Province with six districts: Lương Sơn, Kỳ Sơn, Lạc Sơn, Lạc Thủy, Mai Châu and Đà Bắc.
On October 15, 1957, Tân Lạc District was formed from a portion of Lạc Sơn District.
On April 17, 1959, Kim Bôi District was formed from a portion of Lương Sơn District.
On August 17, 1964, Yên Thủy District was formed from a portion of Lạc Thủy District.
On December 12, 2001, Cao Phong District was formed from a portion of Kỳ Sơn District.
On December 17, 2019, Kỳ Sơn District was annexed by the city of Hòa Bình.

Demographics

is the major ethnic group of Hòa Bình Province, followed by Kinh.