Ha Tien

Ha Tien Thị xã Hà Tiên
Ha Tien Location in Vietnam
Coordinates: 10°23′N 104°29′E
Country	Vietnam
Admin. division	Kien Giang Province
Government
• Mayor
Population (2002)
• Total	39,957

Hà Tiên is a town in Kien Giang Province, Mekong Delta of Vietnam. Area: 8,851.5 ha, population (2002): 39,957. The town borders Cambodia to the west.

Hà Tiên is a popular tourist site of the region thanks to its beautiful beaches and landscapes.

History

Mạc Cửu mausoleum

Hà Tiên was established by a small group of Chinese people mostly men who supported the Ming Dynasty and were opposed to the Qing Dynasty, led by Mo Jiu (Mạc Cửu). When they arrived in Đàng Trong (as southern Vietnam was called while under the rule of the Nguyễn Lords), the Nguyễn Lords ordered the king of the Khmer (then a vassal state of Đàng Trong) to grant land to these Chinese people. These people built markets in this place and turned it into a busy business town. Vietnamese people gradually arrived here. This town later was merged into Vietnamese territory when Mo Jiu delivered its sovereignty to the Nguyễn Lords. Mo Jiu was then conferred the position of ruler of this town.

Economy

Ha Tien is the site of a large cement plant. Its history goes back to the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), where it was one of the largest industrial projects when construction was started in April 1961.

Transportation

Vietnamese border gate next to Hat Tien

Buses connect Hà Tiên to the provincial capital Rach Gia and Chau Doc

A border crossing between Hà Tiên and Kampot in Cambodia was opened in 2007. The border is 7 km west of Hà Tiên.

Twice daily fast ferry hydrofoils are available to Phú Quốc Island.