The birth of Thanh Hoa Province in the early Nguyen period

Abstract

The process of forming Thanh Hoa province was conceived for more than a thousand years of Northern domination and nearly a thousand years of feudalism. During those nearly two millennia, the administrative headquarters of Thanh Hoa was shifted five times, and relocated over four locations, among Tu Pho - Duong Xa, Dong Pho, Duy Tinh, Yen Truong, and Tho Hac. From 1804, Tho Hac area of the Dong Son district has officially become the economic, political, cultural and social centre of the Thanh region, marking an important contribution to Nguyen emperor Gia Long and his successors to project power in the Ma delta. Since then, Thanh Hoa city was born and developed strongly during the last Vietnamese imperial dynasty. During the french rule, among 14 provinces of the Central region, emperor Thanh Thai issued a decree to establish 6 regional centres, namely Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Hue, Hoi An, Quy Nhon and Phan Thiet (July 12, 1899). On August 30, 1899, the Governor-General of Indochina signed a decree to approve the above decision. Over the past two hundred years, the old town Tho Hac and modern-day Thanh Hoa city become an urban center, holding the position of the political, economic, cultural and social centres of Thanh Hoa province. Emperor Gia Long's choice of location for Thanh Hoa provincial capital city was precise and wise, and he had a broad vision of shaping for future sustainable development of the region.