Overview of Kien Giang

1. Geographical location

Kien Giang is located in the Northwest of the Mekong Delta and in the Southwest of Vietnam, with geographical coordinates: from 103 ^° 30' (calculated from Tho Chu Island) to 105 ^° 32' East longitude and from 9 ^° 23' to 10 ^° 32' North latitude. Its administrative boundaries are defined as follows: + To the Northeast, it borders An Giang , Can Tho, and Hau Giang provinces; + To the South, it borders Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces; + To the Southwest is the sea with more than 137 large and small islands and a coastline of over 200 km; bordering the seas of Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. + To the North, it borders Cambodia, with a land border of 56.8 km. 2. Natural Conditions - Topography   Kien Giang province has a total natural area of ​​6,348 ^km² , a coastline of over 200 km, and more than 137 islands of varying sizes, the largest of which is Phu Quoc Island with an area of ​​567 ^km² , making it the largest island in Vietnam. Kien Giang has a very diverse topography, encompassing plains, hills, mountains, and islands. The mainland is relatively flat, sloping gradually from the Northeast (average elevation of 0.8-1.2m) to the Southwest (average elevation of 0.2-0.4m) above sea level. The coastal and island areas are mainly mountainous, but interspersed with narrow plains, creating many valuable natural landscapes for tourism. The province's system of rivers, streams, canals, and ditches is very favorable for agricultural development, goods transportation, and flood drainage. Besides the main rivers (Cai Lon River, Cai Be River, Giang Thanh River), Kien Giang also has a dense network of canals and waterways, with a total length of approximately 2,054 km. This topographical feature, along with the tidal regime of the Western Sea, greatly influences the drainage capacity during the rainy season and is significantly affected by salinity during the dry months. Kien Giang has a 212 km long sea dike system, along which is a coastal protection forest belt with an existing area of ​​5,578 hectares. The dike system is intersected by 60 river mouths and canals connecting to the Western Sea. The dike elevation ranges from 2 to 2.5 m, and the dike surface width ranges from 4 to 6 m. To date, 25 sluice gates have been completed, while the remaining 35 river mouths/canals connecting to the sea require further investment in sluice gate construction to drain floodwaters, prevent salinity intrusion, and retain freshwater for production and daily life. Kien Giang province is divided into four regions: The Long Xuyen Quadrangle region is the main flood drainage area of ​​the province; The Western Hau River region is affected by annual floods; the U Minh Thuong region, with its low-lying terrain, is often flooded during the rainy season, as are the coastal and island areas. - Resources In 2006, the UNESCO International Coordinating Council for the Man and Biosphere Programme recognized the Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve. This is the 5th recognized Biosphere Reserve in Vietnam, with the largest area in the country and the largest in Southeast Asia, covering over 1.1 million hectares. The Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve contains a rich, diverse, and unique landscape and ecosystem, from mangrove forests on wetlands, forests on rocky mountains and limestone mountains to marine ecosystems, notably seagrass beds and rare marine animals. The Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve covers the districts of Phu Quoc, An Minh, Vinh Thuan, Kien Luong, and Kien Hai. There are three core zones belonging to U Minh Thuong National Park, Phu Quoc National Park, and the Kien Luong - Kien Hai coastal protection forest. The Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve has six distinct ecosystems, with approximately 2,340 species of flora and fauna, including 1,480 plant species, of which 116 are rare and listed in the Red Book, and 57 are endemic; and about 860 animal species, of which 78 are rare and 36 are endemic. This area also contains 38 historical, cultural, and scenic sites recognized at the national and provincial levels. The Kien Giang World Biosphere Reserve has great potential for developing ecotourism, while also helping Kien Giang and other coastal provinces of Vietnam strengthen their ability to respond to climate change. Land resources: The total natural land area of ​​Kien Giang is 634,852.67 hectares, of which: Agricultural land: 458,159.01 hectares, accounting for 72.17% of the natural area; Forest land: 89,574.22 hectares, accounting for 14.11% of the natural area; Aquaculture land: 28,378.93 hectares, accounting for 4.47% of the natural area; Other agricultural land: 57.73 hectares, accounting for 0.01% of the natural area. Water resources: Kien Giang province has water resources including surface water, groundwater, and rainwater. * Surface water resources: The river and canal system of Kien Giang province has a total length of over 2000km. Natural rivers include the Giang Thanh River, Cai Lon River, Cai Be River, etc., which are large rivers with estuaries flowing into the Western Sea. They play a very important role in draining excess water and floodwaters from inland areas to the Western Sea. In addition, there is a complex system of man-made canals such as in the Long Xuyen Quadrangle with the Vinh Te, Tam Ngan, Tri Ton, My Thai, Ba The, Kien Hai, Rach Gia-Long Xuyen, Cai San canals, etc. These canal sections all flow in a Northeast-Southwest direction, originating from the Hau River. Man-made canals in the western Hau River region include the KH1 canal, Tram Bau canal, Thot Not canal, KH6 canal, KH7 canal, and O Mon canal. In the southwestern part of the province, there is the Can Gao, Trem Trem, Chac Bang canal, and Thu Bay village canal, originating from the Hau River and ending at the Cai Lon-Cai Be River. Canals play a crucial role in providing irrigation water and transportation for the area. * Groundwater resources: Assessments have identified 7 different aquifer layers and zones in the province: Fractured Permian-Lower Triassic rock aquifer (p-t1), Upper Miocene porous aquifer (n13), Lower Pliocene porous aquifer (n21), Middle Pliocene porous aquifer (n22), Lower Pleistocene porous aquifer (qp1), Middle-Upper Pleistocene porous aquifer (qp2-3), and Upper Pleistocene porous aquifer (qp3). Of these, the exploitation prospects for 4 aquifer layers have been assessed: (qp3), (qp2-3), (qp1), and (n22). These aquifer layers can be exploited for domestic purposes and water supply currently. Among the aforementioned aquifers, the Upper Pleistocene aquifer (qp3) has a narrow area of ​​freshwater (approximately 88 km²), while the majority (approximately 5,603 km²) is mineralized, brackish, and saline water. Other aquifers, including the Middle-Upper Pleistocene (qp2-3), Lower Pleistocene (qp1), and Middle Pliocene, have good exploitation prospects. Of these, the Middle-Upper Pleistocene (qp2-3) and Lower Pleistocene (qp1) aquifers are currently the most promising. The Middle-Upper Pleistocene (qp2-3) aquifer is the most heavily exploited in Kien Giang province, primarily for rural domestic use. The total exploitable groundwater reserve within the province is 1,322,417 m³/day. Of which, the static gravitational reserve is 1,317,474 m3/day, and the static elastic reserve is 4,944 m3/day. * Rainwater resources: Rainfall in Kien Giang is relatively high compared to the average rainfall in the Mekong Delta and is unevenly distributed over time. The average annual rainfall ranges from 1800mm to 2200mm, forming two seasons: the rainy season and the dry season. Rain is extremely important in agricultural production and in the daily lives of rural people in Kien Giang province, especially in coastal areas far from freshwater sources. Storing rainwater during the rainy season to enrich drinking water during the dry months is almost a very common practice among people in the riverine areas of the Western Mekong Delta. Marine resources: Kien Giang province has a vast sea area of ​​approximately 63,290 km2, with 5 archipelagos, including 9 coastal districts, towns, and cities (including 2 island districts: Phu Quoc and Kien Hai, and 7 coastal district-level administrative units). 51 out of 145 communes, wards, and towns have islands or coastlines; with over 200 km of coastline, about 137 large and small islets/islands, and national maritime borders, bordering Cambodia, Thailand, and Malaysia. As a coastal province, it has a rich and diverse mangrove ecosystem, with great potential for the development of agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and tourism... especially with abundant resources including land, hills, minerals, primeval forests, islands, and many rare animal species both in the forest and in the sea. Our province also holds a very important position in socio -economic development, serving as a bridge connecting the provinces of the Southwest region, facilitating trade and national defense and security in the region and internationally. Mineral resources: It can be said that Kien Giang is one of the provinces with the most abundant mineral resources in the Mekong Delta. Through investigation and survey, 237 mineral mines have been identified (including 167 mines for common construction materials and peat). Of these, 86 mines are planned for exploration and exploitation (construction stone: 21 mines, construction sand: 1 mine, clay for bricks and tiles: 19 mines, leveling materials: 32 mines and peat: 13 mines); 45 mines are located in areas prohibited from mineral activities. Mineral reserves for common construction materials and peat meet the province's needs until 2025. Construction stone: 2,550,000 m3, construction sand: 1,050,000 m3, clay for bricks and tiles: 500,000 m3, leveling materials: 13,500,000 m3, peat: 400,000 m3. 3. Population: Kien Giang is the second most populous province in the Mekong Delta region with 1.76 million people in 2015, after An Giang (2.2 million people). The main ethnic groups are Kinh, Hoa, and Khmer. Urbanization has attracted a concentration of people in urban areas, resulting in a population density in Rach Gia that is 8.3 times higher than the provincial average and 32.9 times higher than the population density in Giang Thanh district. The urban population ratio also increased from 21.9% in 2000 to 27.1% in 2010 and 27.4% in 2015. 4. History of Formation and Development From 1757, Kien Giang was a district in the Rach Gia area belonging to Ha Tien Province, established by Mac Thien Tich. In 1808 (the 7th year of Gia Long's reign), Kien Giang district was changed to Kien Giang county. During the Minh Mang dynasty, Kien Giang belonged to An Bien prefecture, Ha Tien province. From June 15, 1867, it was changed to Kien Giang Inspectorate. On August 16, 1967, it was renamed Kien Giang county, belonging to Rach Gia province. In 1956, according to Decree No. 143-NV, Ha Tien province was abolished and 4 districts (including Chau Thanh, Hon Chong, Giang Thanh, and Phu Quoc) were merged into Rach Gia province to form Kien Giang province. By May 1965, Ha Tien province was re-established. In 1957, Decree No. 281-BNV/HC/ND defined the administrative units of Kien Giang province as comprising 6 districts (Kien Thanh, Kien Tan, Kien Binh, Kien An, Ha Tien, Phu Quoc); 7 sub-districts; and 58 communes. According to Decree No. 368-BNV/HC/ND dated December 27, 1957, supplementing Decree No. 281-BNV/HC/ND, Article 1 of this Decree clearly stated that Kien An district included Vinh Tuy commune. On June 13, 1958, the government of the Republic of Vietnam issued Decree 314-BNV/HC/ND amending the administrative units of Kien Giang province. Article 1 of this Decree stipulated the separation of Kien Binh district into two districts: Kien Binh and Kien Hung. Thus, in 1958, Kien Giang province had 7 districts and 7 communes. According to the 1971 Administrative Yearbook of the Republic of Vietnam, Kien Giang province consisted of 7 districts: Kien Thanh, Kien Tan, Kien Binh, Kien An, Kien Luong, Ha Tien, and Phu Quoc; 42 communes; and 247 hamlets. In 1973, Kien Giang province had 8 districts (Kien Thanh, Kien Tan, Kien Binh, Kien An, Kien Luong, Ha Tien, Phu Quoc, and Hieu Le). Today, Kien Giang province has 15 districts, towns, and cities (Rach Gia city, Ha Tien town, and the districts of An Bien, An Minh, Chau Thanh, Giong Rieng, Go Quao, Hon Dat, Kien Hai, Kien Luong, Phu Quoc, Tan Hiep, Vinh Thuan, and U Minh Thuong) and 145 communes, wards, and townships. 5. Kien Giang's cultural and tourism potential includes many famous scenic spots and historical relics such as: Hon Chong, Hon Trem, Hon Phu Tu, Mo So mountain, Mui Nai beach, Thach Dong, Mac Cuu Mausoleum, Dong Ho, Hon Dat, U Minh forest, Phu Quoc island… To effectively exploit its tourism development potential, Kien Giang has built 4 key tourism zones: * Phu Quoc: With its unique topography including a mountain range running from north to south, a primeval forest with rich flora and fauna, and many beautiful beaches such as Bai Truong (20 km long), Bai Cua Lap - Ba Keo, Bai Sao, Bai Dai, Bai Hon Thom... and surrounding it are 26 other islands of various sizes. According to the government's policy, Phu Quoc island is being developed into a high-quality international resort tourism center. Phu Quoc and the two archipelagos of An Thoi and Tho Chau are ideal areas for developing marine and island tourism such as: sightseeing, camping, swimming, relaxation, ecotourism, and various water sports . Phu Quoc has a long-standing cultural tradition and many famous specialties, such as: Phu Quoc fish sauce, pepper, pearls, sim wine, herring, tram mushrooms... It is precisely because of the richness and diversity of Phu Quoc that the number of tourists visiting Phu Quoc increases rapidly every year. * Ha Tien - Kien Luong region: Many scenic coastal and mountainous areas of Ha Tien - Kien Luong such as: Mui Nai, Thach Dong, To Chau Mountain, Da Dung Mountain, Dong Ho Lagoon, Binh San Mountain historical and cultural relics, Hang Pagoda, Phu Tu Island, Duong Beach, MoSo Mountain, Trem Island, Hai Tac Archipelago and Ba Lua Island are very suitable for developing sightseeing and relaxation tourism. Scenic spots such as To Chau Mountain, Dong Ho Lagoon, Giang Thanh River, and Nui Den tourist area are being officially developed for tourism. Ha Tien has a rich historical and cultural tradition, encompassing literature and art, with traditional festivals such as the Lantern Festival, the anniversary of the founding of the Chieu Anh Cac literary circle, the memorial ceremony for Mac Cuu, Phu Dung Pagoda, and Thanh Hoang communal house… Currently, Kien Giang has tourist tours to Cambodia via the Ha Tien International Border Gate. This opens a gateway connecting the Kien Luong - Ha Tien region with Southeast Asian countries; it also opens a three-country tourism route, from Phu Quoc to Shianouk Ville (Cambodia) and Chanthaburi province (Thailand) by sea and land. * Rach Gia City and surrounding areas: Rach Gia City is the administrative center of Kien Giang province, with a 7 km long coastline and very convenient water, land, and air transportation. Rach Gia has good infrastructure, many historical and cultural relics, and is a stopover point for further journeys to Ha Tien, Phu Quoc, and other areas in the province. Therefore, there are advantages in developing services such as accommodation, food, and nighttime entertainment; there are four large-scale supermarket systems ensuring the shopping needs of city residents and tourists. Rach Gia City was the first place in Vietnam to reclaim land from the sea to build a new urban area. The reclaimed land expanded the city into one of the largest new urban areas in the Southwest region. Several areas adjacent to Rach Gia, such as Kien Hai island district, Hon Dat, and U Minh Thuong, also have great potential for tourism development. Kien Hai is currently developing day-trip tours to explore the islands. This is a scenic area with traditional sea-based activities such as fishing, fish sauce making, and seafood processing, creating a unique cultural lifestyle. The Hon Dat tourist area is completing and perfecting cultural works at the tomb of Heroic Martyr Phan Thi Rang (Sister Su), building an exhibition area for some war relics at the provincial television broadcasting station on the top of Hon Me... * U Minh Thuong region: With its unique ecosystem of flooded melaleuca forests on peatland, U Minh Thuong National Park – a revolutionary base area and a world biosphere reserve – has opened to serve ecotourism visitors. The U Minh Thuong National Park tourist area serves ecotourism visitors combined with learning about the riverine culture of the Ca Mau peninsula and research tourism at the Oc Eo - Phu Nam archaeological site (Canh Den, Nen Vua, Ke Mot). The U Minh Thuong revolutionary base complex, with its relics at Nga Ba Cay Bang, Nga Ba Tau, Thu Muoi Mot, Ban Bien Phu Melaleuca Forest, and the 200-day gathering point at Kinh Xang Chac Bang, attracts tourists interested in learning about revolutionary history. Simultaneously, the province has recently commenced construction on several projects under the plan to restore the Provincial Party Committee's base area during the resistance war in Vinh Thuan district. In addition to the four key tourism areas, Kien Giang currently has a Biosphere Reserve covering over 1.1 million hectares. The Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve boasts a rich, diverse, and unique landscape and ecosystem, with significant value for research and tourism. The Kien Giang Biosphere Reserve spans the districts of Phu Quoc, An Minh, U Minh Thuong, Vinh Thuan, Kien Luong, and Kien Hai, comprising three core areas: U Minh Thuong National Park, Phu Quoc National Park, and the coastal protection forests of Kien Luong and Kien Hai.

According to kiengiang.gov.vn