Lai Chau is a mountainous province in the Northwest of Vietnam; with geographical coordinates from 21°41' to 22°50' North latitude and from 102°19' to 103°59' East longitude. To the north, it borders Yunnan province (China) and Lao Cai province; to the east, it borders Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces; to the west, it borders Dien Bien province; to the south, it borders Dien Bien and Son La provinces. The natural area of the province is 9,068.78 km², ranking 10th out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide.
Lai Chau has 265.165km of Vietnam - China border, with Ma Lu Thang national border gate and many openings on the border directly connecting with the large mainland area in the Southwest of China; connected to the Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh growth triangle by national highways 4D, 70, 32 and the Da River waterway, with potential for developing services - trade, import - export and tourism. At the same time, Lai Chau province also has an extremely important strategic position in terms of national defense, security and protection of national border sovereignty . As a large source area and a particularly important protection area of the Da River, a place where ethnic minorities live, Lai Chau plays an important role in ensuring the sustainable development of the country, directly through large hydroelectric projects on the Da River and the Red River Delta.
According to Resolution No. 22/2003/QH11 passed on November 26, 2003 at the 4th session of the 11th National Assembly, Lai Chau province (new) was established on the basis of separating some districts of Lai Chau province (old) and merging Than Uyen district from Lao Cai province. The new provincial capital is located in Tam Duong town (previously called Phong Tho town), with the new name of Lai Chau town (now Lai Chau city).
Currently, Lai Chau has 08 administrative units including Lai Chau city and districts: Muong Te, Sin Ho, Nam Nhun, Tam Duong, Phong Tho, Tan Uyen, Than Uyen; 106 commune-level administrative units (94 communes, 5 wards and 7 towns). The population in the province includes 20 ethnic groups.
Lai Chau's geographical location has important significance in terms of nature, economy, culture, society, security and national defense; creating many opportunities for socio-economic development and posing important tasks in ensuring security, national defense and national border sovereignty in the cause of building and protecting the socialist Vietnamese Fatherland.
Provincial Information Portal
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