General information

- Geographic location: Thai Nguyen is bounded by Bac Kan province to the North, by Vinh Phuc and Tuyen Quang provinces to the West, by Lang Son and Bac Giang provinces to the East and by Hanoi to the South.

- Area: 3,546.6 km².

- Topographic features: Thai Nguyen has many high mountain ranges running in the direction of North-South and lower in the South. Its strongly weathered feature creates small valleys and caves.

- Administrative units:  Thai Nguyen is divided into Thai Nguyen city, Song Cong town and 7 districts: Pho Yen, Phu Binh, Dong Hy, Vo Nhai, Dinh Hoa, Dai Tu and Phu Luong.

- Population: 1, 127, 2100 (Year 2006 – General Office of Statistics)

Resources

- Natural resources: Thai Nguyen’s total area of natural land is 356,282 hectares which is potential for developing agriculture-forestry-fishery, especially tea growing and processing. It has various kinds of mineral: it has the second largest coal deposit in the country with many coal mines and fat coal mainly found in two districts of Dai Tu and Phu Luong; the metal mines are iron, titan, tin, etc. serving the metallurgy and mineral exploitation.

- Tourism resources: Thai Nguyen has great potentiality for developing natural and cultural tourism such as tours to Lake in Coc Mountain, phoenix cave, “chicken beak” stream, Dinh Hoa revolutionary base, Vietnam ethnic group cultural house, etc.

- Human resources: The number of people of working age is approx. 550,000 (nearly 52% of the province’s total population), in which approx. 480,000 have jobs. In the province, every year, there are approx. 12% people of working age looking for jobs including 20,000 newly entering the labour. This is an advantage of the province to have sufficient human resources for developing its economy.

Infrustructure

 - Transportation system: It is convenient to travel in the province with its properly organized transportation system. Most of roads start from the axis along the national highway No. 3 running to districts, town and economic zones, mines, tourism centers and linking to neighbouring provinces. In addition, there are also national highways no. 37, 18, and 259 running through the province. Railway is also convenient here for goods and passenger transportation to other provinces such as Ha Noi – Quan Trieu route. Thai Nguyen has two main waterways which are Da Phuc – Hai Phong and Da Phuc – Hon Gai.

- Power supply system: The system is quite complete with power supplied to all districts by national power network. The networks in Thai Nguyen city, Song Cong town and several districts are the best in the province.

- Water supply and drainage system: There are water supply companies in Thai Nguyen city and Song Cong Town. The company in Thai Nguyen city has been upgraded by ADB loans with the capacity of 30,000 m³/day meeting the whole city’s demands in term of quality and quantity. The design capacity of the company in Song Cong Town is 30,000m³/day meeting the demand for water serving the development of the town and of Song Cong industrial zone but the quality of the water should be improved.

- Post and telecommunication: The province has national and international post and telecommunication system with stable transmission lines of microwave, digital-electronic switchboards. 

- Industrial zones: Industrial zones which are managed by the central level are Thai Nguyen Iron & Cast-iron Complex, Go Dam engineering industrial zone. The one which is managed by the provincial level are Song Cong industrial zone situated in the center of the province, 18km from Thai Nguyen city. Its total area is 320 hectares. The zone can make full use of the province’s potentiality of infrastructure, mineral resource and skillful labour.

Economic situation

- Growth rate: The average GDP rate was 8.94% for the period 2001-2005. 

- Economic structures: The economic structures have been changed to industrialization and modernization. The province’s industry has overcome its stagnancy. The industry proportion which has increased from 30.37% to 38.34% for the period 2001-2005, became the highest in the province’s economic structures.

Development plan up to the year 2010

- GDP growth rate: It is planned to reach the rate of 12-13% annually with the average increase of 12.5-13.5% in industry-construction, of 5-5.5% in agriculture-forestry-fishery.

- Sectors’ development plan:

            + Services: It is planned to reach the GDP of 12% annually with the development of natural tourism, goods transportation, investment in post and telecommunication system, etc.

            + Agriculture-Forestry-Fishery: It is planned to reach the GDP rate of 6.5-7% annually with the development of new rural areas, environment and ecological system protection.

            + Industry: It is planned to reach the average rate of 22% annually following its 10 year plan (2006-2010) for implementing overall solutions in infrastructure investment, industrial zone planning & construction, etc; defining the province’s key products for development; promoting investment in key industries such as metallurgy, steel production, mineral exploitation, construction material production, engine production.