Thanh Hóa province

Thanh Hóa province
Citadel of the Hồ Dynasty   Sông Mực Lake   Hải Hòa Beach   Trống Mái Mountain   Cẩm Lương fish stream   Mai An Tiêm Temple   Lam Kinh Temple   Phú Lệ Suspension bridge   Bà Triệu Temple   Dạ Lộc Temple   Lê Lợi Mausoleum   Lê Lợi Statue
Nickname(s): 
"Coinwortland"
(Tiểu vương quốc Rau Má)
Motto(s): 
"Scents and colors of the four seasons"
(Hương sắc bốn mùa)
Location of Thanh Hóa within Vietnam
Coordinates: 20°0′N 105°30′E / 20.000°N 105.500°E / 20.000; 105.500
Country Vietnam
RegionNorth Central Coast
Capital (and Largest city)Thanh Hóa
Government
  People's Council ChairLại Thế Nguyên
  People's Committee ChairĐỗ Minh Tuấn
Area
  Total
11,114.71 km2 (4,291.41 sq mi)
Population
 (2024)
  Total
4,764,200
  Density430/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Demographics
  EthnicitiesVietnamese, Mường, Thai, Thổ, Dao, and H'Mông
GDP
  TotalVND 146.242 trillion
US$ 6.351 billion
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Area codes237
ISO 3166 codeVN-21
HDI (2020) 0.726
(23th)
Websitewww.thanhhoa.gov.vn

Thanh Hóa is the northernmost coastal province in the North Central Coast region of Central Vietnam. It borders Sơn La, Hòa Bình, and Ninh Bình to the north, Nghệ An to the south, the Laotian province of Houaphanh to the west with a boundary of over 192 kilometres (119 mi) long, and the South China Sea (Gulf of Tonkin) to the east.

Thanh Hóa is a relatively large province; it ranks fifth in area and third in population among 63 central administrative subdivisions. Its capital and largest city is Thanh Hóa City. The province has a nickname: Xứ Thanh (The Land of Thanh).

Human civilization has existed in Thanh Hóa since about 6,000 years ago and was one of the earliest centers of the ancient Vietnamese. Archaeological excavations have shown that the first culture present was the Đa Bút Culture, located along the Đáy and the Mã Rivers.

Thanh Hóa is located in the middle of North Vietnam and the North Central Coast as a transition in many aspects: geology, climate, administrative division, and local culture. These factors show that it has many particular local habits, customs, and cultures.

Thanh Hóa has two provincial cities, one district-level town and 24 rural districts with an area of 11,114.71 km2 (4,291.41 sq mi), and a population of approximately 3.6 million. Sầm Sơn city is a famous seaside resort situated 16 km from the Thanh Hóa city centre. Bỉm Sơn township is a large industrial centre, especially for cement. Nghi Sơn is a promising economic zone, expected to become the centre of Thanh Hoa's industry with a large refinery factory, deepwater seaport, and many projects in progress.

The province is also home to many ethnic groups, the seven ethnicities with most people are Kinh, Mường, Thái, H'Mông, Dao, Thổ, Khơ-mú with mentions of the legend Long Quân. ("Dragon Lord of Lac")