# Kim Bảng

Kim Bảng [kim˧˧:ɓa̰ːŋ˧˩˧] is a district-level town of Hà Nam province in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam.

## History
### Middle Ages

According to four documents of Cựu Đường thư, An Nam chí lược, An Nam chí nguyên and Đại Việt sử ký toàn thư, on the right bank of the Đáy river there was ever an administrative unit called as Cổ Bảng rural district (古榜縣, Cổ Bảng huyện), belonging to Lị Nhân canton (利仁州, Lị Nhân châu).

### XX century

Under the State of Vietnam regime, Kim Bảng was continued to change its name as Kim Bảng district (quận Kim Bảng), belonging to Hà Nam province (tỉnh Hà Nam).

### XXI century

On November 8, 2024, the Ministry of Construction issued Decision 1036/QĐ-BXD on "recognition of areas where were expected to establish wards under Kim Bảng municipality, Hà Nam province, meeting the developed standard of the urban infrastructure which was applied to wards of the IV-class urban area". Accordingly, the Vietnamese government's all levels have basically agreed to prepare for the recognition of the urban regime for the entire area of Kim Bảng rural district.
On November 14, 2024, the National Assembly Standing Committee issued Resolution 1288/NQ-UBTVQH on arranging the district and commune-level administrative units of Hà Nam province in the period of 2023–25, which takes effect from January 1, 2025. Accordingly, officially establishing Kim Bảng town (thị xã Kim Bảng) of Hà Nam province on the basis of the entire Kim Bảng rural district.

## Geography
### Topography

Since the evening of February 8, 2025, the area of Kim Bảng town has been automatically divided into 17 commune-level administrative units.
* 10 wards : Ba Sao, Đại Cương, Đồng Hóa, Lan Quế, Lê Hồ, Ngọc Sơn, Tân Sơn, Tân Tựu, Thi Sơn, Tượng Lĩnh.
* 7 communes : Hoàng Tây, Khả Phong, Liên Sơn, Nguyễn Úy, Thanh Sơn, Thụy Lôi, Văn Xá.
According to the 2023 statistical yearbook of the whole Hà Nam province, Kim Bảng town covers an area of 175,40 km$^2$. By Đồng Khánh địa dư chí lược, Kim Bảng seated on two large rivers Đáy and Nhuệ, so it was almost very sunken, which is disadvantage of agricultural situation in the rainy season. However, its Southwest is quite high limestone mountains and there are many clay, where was part of the Hòa Bình plateau.
Besides, Kim Bảng is also the intersection of the national highways 21A, 21B, 21C and 38.

### Population

As of 2025 Kim Bảng town had a population of 145,744. In particular, all people are registered as Kẻ Kinh.

## Culture

Since 2010s, Kim Bảng town has been widely known in the world as one of the impressive spiritual tourist destinations.
* Tam Chúc national tourist area (Khu du lịch quốc gia Tam Chúc) lied in Ba Sao ward and Khả Phong commune.
* White Horse temple (miếu Bạch Mã), where worships Linh Lang Prince, a god blessed Emperor Đinh Hoàn to unify the country in the IX century.
* Bà Banh temple (đền Bà Banh), what was built in the VII century to worship the Four Dharma Seals. Its name stems from a Champa dancer statue (vũ nữ Trà Kiệu), which was cast by Champa prisoners in the Lý Dynasty.
* Luồn cave and Dong pond in Thi Sơn ward.
According to the documents of Hà Nam Communist Party Committee, the area of Kim Bảng town was the beginning of the Xuân Phả performance (trò Xuân Phả) from 1433. However, this theory is still in the debate.

## Economy

In the territory of Kim Bảng town, there are a number of traditional craft villages, such as :
* Ceramics and porcelain in Quyết Thành village.
* Wooden furniture and handicrafts in Nhật Tân village.
* Threaded embroidery in Phương Thượng village.
* Weaving in Lác Nhuế village.
* Limestone mining in the Western communes.