Quảng Nam province

Quảng Nam(Vietnamese:[kwaːŋ˧˩naːm˧˧]) is a coastalprovincenear northernmost part of theSouth Central Coastregion, theCentralofVietnam. It bordersHuếto the north,Đà Nẵngto the northeast,Kon Tumto the southwest,Quảng Ngãito the southeast,SekongofLaosto the west and theSouth China Seato the east.
Quảng Nam is known for being a tourist destination in theHội Ancultural site, alongside an export and manufacturing hub within central Vietnam.
Human habitation in the province has been continuous for 2,200 years, starting with theSa Huỳnh culture.
Quảng Nam was once the political and near the geographic centre ofChampaand the province was gifted in 1307 in exchange for a marriage to a Vietnamese orDai Vietprincess.For some time both the most powerful city-state and the busiest Cham port (atHội An) were located in what is now Quảng Nam. Trade in luxury goods from theCentral Highlandswas the basis of this wealth and power.As a result of warfare with Vietnam, the centre of political power of the Cham shifted south toVijaya. The trade in luxuries continued for some time under theNguyễn lordsbut declined gradually, especially under theNguyễn dynastyand further incolonialVietnam, when the economic focus shifted to the agriculture of the large river deltas.
As the site contained several mountain passes, it has historically been a center for conflict between ruling powers and dynastic struggles. The site was the scene of heavy inter-dynastic fighting between theTrịnh–Nguyễn Warand the point in which the Nguyen dynasty had escaped following their expulsion from their strongholds in the north.Its primary city ofHội Anwas destroyed and rebuilt during theTay Son rebellion.
The province of Quang Nam has historically served as a trade site and was a major port region in Southeast Asia for trading high-grade silk, fabrics, paper, porcelain, areca nuts, pepper, Chinese medicines, elephant tusks, beeswax, mother-of-pearl and lacquer.The Dutch broughtVietnamese slavesthey captured from Nguyễn lord territories in Quảng Nam province to theircolony in Taiwan.
As a trade hub, Quang Nam would also serve as the site where Western influence would enter into Vietnam. NotablyAlexandre de Rhodeswho had written the alphabet, and also where amilitary alliance with Francewas signed between Nguyen dynasty monarchs fleeing the Tay Son Rebellion. The region would also see the start of French colonization duringCochinchina campaignand theSiege of Tourane.
The province was split into two in 1962, with the southern half known asQuảng Tín province. The province was also the site of heavy fighting during theVietnam War, until it was captured in theHue–Da Nang Campaign. The two provinces were merged again after unification in 1976. In 1997 its former capital city ofDa Nangwas separated into its own administrative entity.
Quảng Nam comprises flat land along the coast and increasingly high elevations towards the west, with the highest elevations along the border toLaosandKon Tum province. The highest peak isNgọc Linhmountain at 2598m.In contrast to the other provinces of theSouth Central Coastthere are no hills or mountains near the coast(with the exception of theChàm Islandswith a peak of 517m).
More than half of Quảng Nam's area is covered by forests,making it one of the most forested provinces in Vietnam. Forests dominate in the west of the province and along the border toQuảng Ngãi province.111,900ha of land are used for agriculture,mostly in the east of the province.
TheThu Bồn Riversystem covers most of the province (except for the south-east), making it one of the largest river systems in central Vietnam.It led to the rise of an ancientChamcity state that was once Champa's most influential city and also included one of its most important commercial ports atHội An.
Quảng Nam subdivided into 18 district-level sub-divisions:
They are further subdivided into 13 commune-level towns (or townlets), 213 communes, and 18 wards.
Quảng Nam has two famous traditional products: the world's highest essential oil content Trà My cinnamon (akaSaigon Cinnamon) andNgọc Linh ginseng. Quảng Nam is famous for its production of Saigon cinnamon.
The economy of Quảng Nam has been growing rapidly in recent years. GDP growth in 2010 was 12.7% and the goal for 2011 is 13.5%.Growth has been between 12 and 15% in the years from 2005 to 2007, mostly driven by a booming industrial sector (growing more than 20% per year) and to a lesser extent the service sector.GDP per capita in 2007 was 8.76 millionVietnamese đồng, 65.2% of the national average.
Quảng Nam's economy has been diversified significantly during the first decade of the 21st century. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery made up 41.5% of the province's GDP in 2000but only 21.4% in 2010.This is only a relative decline. Growth of the first sector has been positive but overshadowed by industrial and service growth. It was between 2 and 4% between 2000 and 2007and 4.5% in 2010.The vast majority of the work force is still employed in this sector: 524,700 out of 778,300 as of 2007 (down from 548,700 in 2000).Harvests of rice, which takes up 75% of the agricultural area, has increased from 329,900 tons in 2000 to 395,100 tons in 2007 (1.1% of the national rice output).The cultivation of industrial crops has experienced a significant transformation. The production of some crops has declined significantly: sugar cane from 170,400t in 2000 to 46,500t in 2007, tobacco from 2200t to 900t, tea from 1935t to 821t, and coconut from 8741t to 3675t, while the output of other crops has been increased: peanuts from 10,700t to 16,900t, rubber from 0t to 186t, pepper from 22t to 205t, and cashew nuts from 362t to 2345t.Given the recent significant expansion of rubber plantations, this crop is likely to grow further. So far, only peanut cultivation is significant in a national context, making up 3.35% of national output, while the other non-cereal crops contribute less than 1%.
Industrial GDP has been the main driving force of Quảng Nam's economy in the first decade of the century. In 2010 it contributed 40.1% to the provincial GDP,up from just 25.3% in 2000 and employed 99,600 workers in 2007, compared to 51,600 in 2000.Industrial GDP has increased 2.48 times between 2000 and 2007and continues to grow at around 20%.Chu Lai Economic Zoneis located in the south of the province alongNational Road 1and is the site of many of the province's factories. A smaller industrial zone is located inTam Kỳwith factories producing electrical equipment, garments, and processed wood.
Major industrial export products include leather shoes (US$51.26 million in 2007), garments (US$31.33 million), wooden products (US$8.587 million), and paper materials (US$2.136 million).Industrial products more oriented towards the domestic market include fish sauce (3.69 million liters), bricks (253 million pieces), fabric (52.5 million meters), and hand farming tools (2 million pieces).
Quang Nam has the biggest gas warehouse in the central area: Total Gas & Power Co. Ltd's Ky Ha gas warehouse.
National Route 1runs through the east of the province. BothTam KỳandChu Lai Economic Zoneare located along this road, whileHội Anis around 10 km east of it.National Road 14 runs fromHuếthrough the west of Quảng Nam toĐắk Glei districtinKon Tum provincein theCentral Highlands. It is connected to National Road 1A by 14B in north and 14E in central Quảng Nam and the border toLaosthrough 14D.
57.7% of the roads in (national, provincial, or district) are paved with asphalt, which is somewhat above the median value of provinces in Vietnam. The value is much higher and significantly better than the median for provincially managed roads: 87.68%.Only 29% of respondents to a survey of businesses in 2009 stated that road quality is good or very good (slightly above the median).Vietnam'sNorth–South railwayruns through the provinces. Some, but not all, trains stop atTam Kỳ railway stationserving the provincial capitalTam Kỳ.
Da Nang International Airportis located in Da Nang just north of Quảng Nam. Another airport,Chu Lai Airportis located inNúi Thành districtin the south of the province nearQuảng Ngãi province, serving Chu Lai Economic Zone.
The province has twoUNESCOWorld Heritage Sites: the ancient town ofHội Anand theMỹ Sơntemple complex. It also lies on theWorld Heritage Roadwhich connects different World Heritage Sites in Central Vietnam.
Another popular tourist site isCu Lao Cham(Cham Islands).