Binh Duong Province

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Template:Infobox province of Vietnam

Binh Duong (in Vietnamese, Bình Dương) is a Province of Vietnam. It is located in the south of the country, immediately to the north of Hồ Chí Minh City. The province was created from Song Be Province on January 1, 1997.

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Geography

Bình Dương Province is situated on relatively level terrain, and is crossed by the Saigon, Đồng Nai, and Be rivers.

Economy

The area is considered to be good cropland, and agriculture is an important industry in the province. Bình Dương is also home to a significant manufacturing industry, and in the first half of 2004, the province had the second highest levels of foreign investment in Vietnam.

Administration

Politically, Bình Dương is divided into six districts: Ben Cat, Dau Tieng, Di An, Phu Giao, Tan Uyen, and Thuan An. The provincial capital, Thủ Dầu Một, is a separate municipality.

Demographics

Originally, the area now known as Bình Dương was heavily forested, and was dominated by peoples of the Xtiêng, Cho Ro, Mnong, and Khmer Krom ethnic groups. In the 17th century, however, ethnic Vietnamese settlers arrived in the region from the east. Most were peasants, seeking to escape poverty by gaining land of their own. There were also a number of refugees from a war between two feudal houses. In 1698, there were enough people in the area that a prominent Vietnamese general was sent to establish official institutions and enforce law. From that point, Bình Dương developed rapidly, with extensive clearance of forests to make room for crops. The province is now dominated by ethnic Vietnamese.

External link

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