The land of present-day Gia Lai province is the long-standing home of the Jrai and Bahnar ethnic groups, who traditionally live in villages. Before the French colonized the Central Highlands, the ethnic groups of Gia Lai were in the final stages of a primitive society transitioning to a class-based society.
From the early 1840s, French missionaries infiltrated the Bahnar settlements of present-day Ha Tay commune in Chu Pah district and Ha Dong commune in Dak Doa district to spread Christianity. Following in the footsteps of these missionaries, the French colonialists increasingly advanced into the northern Central Highlands, creating new changes through policies of divide and conquer, using one group to fight another, dividing the Kinh and ethnic minorities, and dividing the various ethnic groups within the province and the region.
From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, the French colonialists gradually established their administrative apparatus in Gia Lai province. After numerous changes, mergers, and divisions to create administrative units in the Central Highlands, on May 24, 1932, Pleiku province was established (comprising Pleiku and Cheo Reo agencies) according to a Decree of the Governor-General of Indochina.
Prior to the August Revolution of 1945, Pleiku province comprised: Pleiku town (established on December 3, 1929, by decree of the Commissioner of Central Vietnam), An Khe district, Pleikli district, Chu Ty district, and Cheo Reo district.
After the success of the August Revolution, the province was named Gia Lai by the revolutionary government. In June 1946, the French colonialists reoccupied the Gia Lai region and renamed the province Pleiku. From 1946 to 1954, Pleiku province in particular, and the Central Highlands in general, experienced several changes in administrative control according to documents from the colonial government and the puppet government .
From the perspective of the revolutionary government, during the years of resistance against French colonialism, the province's name remained Gia Lai, but at different times, Gia Lai province came under the direct control of various regional agencies, and the districts within the province also underwent several changes in name and administrative boundaries.
For the Saigon government, although the province remained called Pleiku from 1954 until the complete liberation of South Vietnam, its appearance changed many times.
From 1954 to 1975, the province retained its name as Gia Lai, but its administrative boundaries underwent many changes throughout different periods of history.
- On September 20, 1975, according to a resolution of the Politburo , the two provinces of Gia Lai and Kon Tum were merged into one province called Gia Lai - Kon Tum.
- On August 12, 1991, according to Resolution No. 9 of the 8th National Assembly, Gia Lai - Kon Tum was divided into two provinces: Gia Lai and Kon Tum. Since the division, Gia Lai has continued to be divided to create several new districts.
To date, Gia Lai Province has 17 administrative units including: Pleiku City; An Khe Town, Ayun Pa Town, and 14 districts: Chu Pah, Ia Grai, Chu Prong, Duc Co, Chu Se, Mang Yang, Dak Doa, Kbang, Kong Chro, Dak Po, Ia Pa, Phu Thien, Krong Pa, and Chu Puh.
According to the history of the Gia Lai Provincial Party Committee (1945-2005)
Provincial e-Government Portal
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