Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm

Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm, commonly known as Phan Rang, is a city in Vietnam and the capital of Ninh Thuận Province. 

 History 
What is now Phan Rang was formerly known as Panduranga, a principality of Champa kingdom.

 Geography 
Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm city is located in the center of Ninh Thuận province, 1,380 km south of Hanoi, 330 km northeast of Ho Chi Minh City, 95 km south of Nha Trang.

 Administration 
Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm city is divided into 13 commune-level administrative units, including 12 wards and 1 commune

 Culture 

 Cham 
Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm city has become a center for the maintenance of Cham culture. Much of the district is occupied by Cham people where they have rice paddies, orchards of grapes and peaches, flocks of goats and Brahman cattle.Their towers (the 'Thap') are beautiful memorials to their kings and queens. There are several Cham sites with dilapidated towers along the central coast of Vietnam and major sites in Mỹ Sơn and Nha Trang.

 Transport 
Phan Rang–Tháp Chàm is located at the junction of National Routes 1A and 27; the former connects the town to Hanoi towards the north and Ho Chi Minh City to the south-west, while the latter crosses into the Central Highlands towards Buôn Ma Thuột.

The city is also connected to the North–South Railway at Tháp Chàm Railway Station; express passenger trains (SE1/2, SE5/6) stop regularly at the station.

 References 

Category:Cities in Vietnam