Thái Nguyên province

Thái Nguyên borders six provinces: Cao Bằng, Phú Thọ, Tuyên Quang, Lạng Sơn, Bắc Ninh and Hanoi. Thái Nguyên is the gateway for socio-economic exchange with the Red River delta. It is 50 km from Noi Bai international airport, 200 km from the Chinese border, 75 km from the center of Hanoi and 200 km from Hai Phong. The exchange is carried out via road, rail and waterways in the province.^[6] Main water features include the Công River and Núi Cốc Lake.

Thái Nguyên has mountain ranges running from south to north. Their structure is made of decayed rocks with caves and valleys. In the southwest is the Tam Đảo mountain range, located on the northern fringe of the Red River Delta. The range spans some 80 kilometres, with its highest peak of 1,529 metres^[8] (note other sources state 1,590 or 1,592 metres) and cliffs running from northwest to southeast.

The Tam Đảo mountain region is protected by the Tam Đảo National Park, established in 1996, which is one of the national parks in Vietnam.^[8]

According to the General Statistics Office of the Government of Vietnam, the population of Thái Nguyên province as of 2019 was 1,286,751 with a density of 364 people per km² over a total land area of 3,526.64 km² (1,361.64 mi²). The female population during this period was 657,554 while the male population was 629,197. The rural population was 876,484 against an urban population of 410,267 (about 47% of the rural population).^[2]

Farming, aquaculture and industries are some of the economic activities of the province. In 2008, as against the national figure of 7,592 cooperatives of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery cooperatives, there are 83 agriculture cooperatives in the province.^[9][10] There were 638 farms as against the national number of 120,699 in 2008.^[11] The output value of agriculture produce at constant 1994 prices in the province was 1667.1 billion đồngs against the national value of 156681.9 billion đồngs.^[12] The province produced 410,400 tonnes of cereals as against the national production of 43.68 million tonnes.^[13] The per capita production of cereals in the province was 356.9 kg as against the national figure of 501.9 kg in 2007.^[14] In 2007, the industrial output of the province was 11,987.5 Bhilldongs against the national output of 1.47 million Bhilldongs.^[15]

Thái Nguyên is subdivided into 92 commune, wards.

Before 2025, there are 9 district-level sub-divisions and 178 commune-level sub-divisions:

Some tourist attractions outside the capital city are listed below.

Núi Cốc Lake

Tour boats circle the lake, recounting local legends and visiting some of the 89 islands within it. Some islands feature historic remains, protected breeding sites for birds, or feral goats. In March 2007, an eco-tourism park was developed beside the lake. It features musical fountains, an animal park, and a Fairy Tale House Underworld and Water park.^{[19][20][21][22]}

Phuong Hoang cave

Phuong Hoang (Phoenix) cave is located at a distance of 40 km from Thái Nguyên city. The cave has four chambers where stalagmite and stalactite formations can be seen. Two of the caves admit some sunlight when the sun is at the right angle. Otherwise, artificial light is required to see the Hisinterior.^[20]

Historical Safe Zone

Historical Safe Zone (An toàn khu – ATK) locates in Định Hóa district. This was the place where President Ho Chi Minh had lived for some years during the Resistance War against France (1945–1954).^[23]

Cuisine

Besides its tea, the province is known for such local culinary specialties as bún chả and phở noodle dishes, Định Hóa rice, Dầy cake, and hill chicken. Another food is Bánh chưng from Bờ Đậu village about 10 km north of Thái Nguyên City in Phú Lương District, where both sides of the road are lined with shops selling the local specialty made from glutinous rice cake, mung bean puree, and pork wrapped in aromatic leaves (usually Stachyphrynium placentarium, sometimes banana) and tied up with string made from a kind of bamboo, which can be used to slice the rice cake into portions for sharing. Tết is the village's busiest season.^[24]

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  A festival scene
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  Seats in a garden
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  The elephant statue as a present of King Prajadhipok of Siam at entrance to a temple
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  Vietnamese green tea
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  Temple in the province
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  Buddha statue and tour boats at Nui Coc Lake
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  Fountain in Nui Coc Lake Tourist Area
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  Inside Phoenix Cave