Haiphong

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 This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in the Vietnamese Wikipedia. (July 2010)
Haiphong
Thành phố Hải Phòng
—  Municipality  —
Top left: Le Chan women general statue. Top right: View of Le Hong Phong Street. Middle: View of Cat Ba resort area, Bottom left: Haiphong container hub port. Bottom right: Haiphong Opera House.
Provincial location in Vietnam
Coordinates: 20°51′N 106°41′E / 20.850°N 106.683°E / 20.850; 106.683
Country  Vietnam
Area
 • Total 1,507.57 km2 (582.08 sq mi)
Population
 • Total 1,884,685 (3rd in Vietnam)
Website www.haiphong.gov.vn

Haiphong (About this sound listen) is one of the most important port cities in Vietnam; with the advantage of having a deep-water port, maritime transport there is very developed. Haiphong is also the third largest city in Vietnam. The name means "coastal defense". Haiphong is also called "The City of the Red Flamboyant" because of the many flamboyant trees planted in the city.

Contents

History[edit]

Hai Phong City Map, English edition of 1920

Haiphong was originally founded by Lê Chân, the female general of a Vietnamese revolution against the Chinese led by the Trưng Sisters (Hai Bà Trưng) in the year 43 C.E. The area which is now known as Duong Kinh District was once known as Hai tan Phong thu ("defensive coastal area"), and served as the second capital of the Mac dynasty (1527–1592). At the end of Nguyen Emperor Tu Duc's reign, the headquarters of An Duong District was also moved to Hang Kenh Communal House, which now belongs to Le Chan district.[1]

In 1881, the city was the site of a devastating typhoon which claimed up to 300,000 lives.

Haiphong was one of Vietnam's major ports and trading centers. When the country was invaded by the French, the city became France's main naval base in Indochina. After World War II, when Vietnam attempted to regain its independence, Haiphong was the site of the first military action undertaken by the French, as punishment for the death of three French soldiers. Some sources[2] claim that the French heavy cruiser Suffren bombarded the city, while others claim it was not Suffren but 3 avisos or sloops, supported by Suffren, the ships that bombarded the city and adjacent fields in an action that contributed to the start of the First Indochina War.[3][4] French infantry forces under the command of Jean-Étienne Valluy invaded the city and fought house to house with support from armored units and jet fighters.[5]

Haiphong

Vietnam War[edit]

See also: Operation Rolling Thunder, Operation Linebacker , and Operation Linebacker II

Late in the Vietnam War, Haiphong was subjected to heavy bombing by US Navy and Air Force strike aircraft because it was North Vietnam's only major port. U.S. Admiral Thomas H. Moorer planned the mining of Haiphong harbor which took place on 8 May 1972 and which he claimed never caused a single casualty.[6] The city, however, was completely unaffected by the war due to the establishment of a prohibition zone surrounding it. After the war, the city recovered and became a significant industrial center.[1]

Demographics[edit]

Haiphong is the third most populous city in Vietnam, with an area of 1,507.57 km² and a population of 1,884,685 for the metropolitan, 769,739 for urban districts according to the 2009 census.[7] Women make up 50.4% of Haiphong's population.[8]

Population growth

As of the 2009 census, Haiphong's average annual population growth rate was given as 4.0%. Haiphong's crude birth rate was recorded at 18.1 live births per 1000 persons; the crude death rate was measured at 7.6 per 1000 persons. Life expectancy at birth was estimated at 77.1 years for women and 72.0 years for men, or 74.5 years overall. The infant mortality rate was measured at 11.8 infant deaths per 1000 live births, just over two points above the nation's average for urban areas. In the same census, the city's immigration and emigration rates were measured at 2.8% and 1.9%, respectively, for a net migration rate of 0.9%.[8]

Geography[edit]

Haiphong is a coastal city located at the mouth of the Cam River, in Vietnam's northeastern coastal area, 120 km east of Hanoi. The Binh Bridge crosses the Cam and connects the city with Thuy Nguyen District. It has a total natural area of 152,318.49ha (2001). It borders Quang Ninh province to the north, Hai Duong province to the west, Thai Binh province to the south, and the Gulf of Tonkin to the east. Bach Long Vi island, located in the Gulf, is also administered as part of the city. The city is located in a convenient position for transportation to domestic provinces, and international networks via road network, railway, sea routes, inland waterway and air.

NASA image of Haiphong

Climate[edit]

Haiphong features a humid subtropical climate, with hot, humid summers and warm, dry winters. The city is noticeably wetter from April through October. In fact about roughly 90% of the city’s annual precipitation (which is approximately 1600 mm of rainfall) typically falls during these months. There is a noticeable difference in temperatures between the city’s winters and summers. Haiphong’s coolest months, January and February, sees average high temperatures reach 20 degrees Celsius and average low temperatures at around 14 degrees Celsius. Its warmest months, June and July, sees average high temperatures hover around 33 degrees Celsius and average low temperatures at around 26 degrees Celsius. Sea temperatures range from a low of 21 °C (70 °F) in February to a high of 30 °C (86 °F) during the months of July and August.[9]

Climate data for Hai Phong
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 31
(88)		 34
(93)		 35
(95)		 36
(97)		 41
(106)		 38
(100)		 38
(100)		 39
(102)		 37
(99)		 36
(97)		 33
(91)		 30
(86)		 41
(106)
Average high °C (°F) 20
(68)		 20
(68)		 23
(73)		 28
(82)		 32
(90)		 33
(91)		 33
(91)		 32
(90)		 31
(88)		 29
(84)		 25
(77)		 22
(72)		 27.3
(81.2)
Average low °C (°F) 13
(55)		 15
(59)		 18
(64)		 21
(70)		 24
(75)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 26
(79)		 24
(75)		 22
(72)		 18
(64)		 15
(59)		 20.7
(69.2)
Record low °C (°F) 6
(43)		 7
(45)		 8
(46)		 10
(50)		 16
(61)		 20
(68)		 21
(70)		 20
(68)		 16
(61)		 15
(59)		 8
(46)		 6
(43)		 6
(43)
Rainfall mm (inches) 26
(1.02)		 30
(1.18)		 42
(1.65)		 91
(3.58)		 170
(6.69)		 242
(9.53)		 260
(10.24)		 305
(12.01)		 209
(8.23)		 121
(4.76)		 57
(2.24)		 24
(0.94)		 1,577
(62.07)
Avg. rainy days 10 11 14 13 14 15 15 16 14 11 8 6 147
 % humidity 78 86 90 91 87 86 86 88 87 80 83 79 85.1
Mean monthly sunshine hours 93 56 93 120 186 210 217 186 180 186 150 124 1,801
Source #1: World Climate Guide.[9]
Source #2: Weatherbase (record highs and lows and humidity).[10]
Average Sea Temperature [9]
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average temperature °C (°F) 22 °C (72 °F) 21 °C (70 °F) 22 °C (72 °F) 24 °C (75 °F) 27 °C (81 °F) 29 °C (84 °F) 30 °C (86 °F) 30 °C (86 °F) 29 °C (84 °F) 28 °C (82 °F) 26 °C (79 °F) 23 °C (73 °F) 26 °C (79 °F)

Government[edit]

Wiki letter w.svg This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (December 2010)

Economy[edit]

Haiphong is northern Vietnam's second largest industrial centre.[11] It's GDP accounted for 11.8 of the Red River Delta in 2007, second only to Hanoi. It is a significant producer of rice and has the Red River Delta's fourth largest fishing sector. Its industrial sector is the second largest in the region (10.6% of regional industrial GDP) and slightly ahead of Vinh Phuc province (2007). Haiphong is northern Vietnam's major port city. As a result, it has a large service sector and is important for the region's trade, with export of US$1.26bn and imports of US$1.55bn in 2007.[12][13]

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery[edit]

Despite its status as a city, around one third of Hai Phong's area or 52,300 ha (as of 2007) are used for agriculture. Rice is the most important crop, taking up around 80% of the agricultural land with an output of 463,100 tons in 2007.[12] Other agricultural products include maize, sugar and peanuts.[12]

Haiphong has a relatively large fishing sector with an output of 79,705 tons (2007). Gross output has almost doubled between 2000 and 2007, mostly due to fast growth in aquaculture, which made up 60% of gross output in 2007. Despite its coastal location, sea fish contribute relatively little to the sector (around one fourth). Nam Dinh province and Thai Binh province have much larger fishing sectors and even the inland Hai Duong province has a larger gross output from fishing than Haiphong.[12]

As of 2007, 315,500 were employed in agriculture and fishery, a significant decrease from 396,300 in 2000. However, these sectors still account for almost a third of total employment in Haiphong, a larger share than industry.[12] However, gross output in both agriculture and fishery have been growing significantly between 2000 and 2007.

Industry[edit]

Industry is a key sector in Haiphong including food processing, light industries and heavy industries. Major products include fish sauce, beer, cigarettes, textiles, paper, plastic pipes, cement, iron, pharmaceuticals, electric fans, motorbikes, steel pipes and ships and out-sourcing software implementation.[12] Most of these industries have been growing significantly between 2000 and 2007, with the exceptions of the cigarette and pharmaceutical industries. Shipbuilding, steel pipes, plastic pipes and textiles are among the industries with the most rapid growth.[12]

Several large industrial projects with foreign participation are currently being prepared. The country's fourth Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park is under construction in Haiphong. It has an investment capital of US$1bn and is projected to have a population of 150,000 by 2020.[14] Another billion dollar project was announced by the Japanese tire producer Bridgestone in December 2011.[15] Haiphong will also be the location of Vietnam's first specialised industrial park exclusively for Japanese investors.[16]

There are also growing industries supplying products used by existing industries in the city. PetroVietnam set up a joint-venture PVTex with textile manufacturer Vinatex to build Vietnam's first polyester fiber plant in Haiphong. The factory will use by-products from oil-refining and reduce reliance on imported materials.[17]

270,600 people were employed in Haiphong's industry. 112,600 industrial jobs were created between 2000 and 2007.[12]

Infrastructure[edit]

Transport[edit]

Haiphong Port on the Cam river.

By Land

Haiphong is located near the junction of two National Highways: Route 5, leading west to Hanoi, and Route 10, leading south to Nam Dinh and connecting with National Highway 1A at Ninh Binh. Highway 356 passes west–east from the Route 5/10 junction through Haiphong's downtown area all the way to the coast. There is also a connecting road from route 5 to route 18 which connects Haiphong and Quang Ninh province. There are several coach stations, such as Tam Bac, Niem Nghia, Cau Rao.

By sea

Haiphong port is one of the two biggest ports in Vietnam. It is also listed in one of the most important port in the Southeast Asia. The Port of Haiphong is divided into three main terminals: Hoang Dieu terminal (Central terminal), located near the city's center; Chua Ve terminal, and Dinh Vu Terminal, both on the eastern side of town. All three terminals are located on the banks of the Cam River.[18] Several ferry terminals connect Haiphong with the neighboring Cat Hai and Cat Ba Islands; Ben Binh Ferry terminal is located near the downtown area, while Dinh Vu Ferry is located on a spit of land on the coast. Recently, the government of Vietnam has approved the plan about building an international port in Lach Huyen – 15 kilometers from the city central. This will be one of the biggest port in Vietnam whose depth is about −14m which can receive 50000 to 100000 DWT ships.

By train

Haiphong Railway Station, established in 1902, is the eastern terminus of the Hanoi–Haiphong railway line, also known as the Yunnan–Vietnam Railway. Built at the initiative of the French during their occupation, the railway once connected Haiphong to the city of Kunming in China's Yunnan province, although service along the Chinese portion of the line is currently suspended. Rail travel from Haiphong is still possible, with connections to the rest of the Vietnamese railway network possible via Hanoi. Besides this, there are lots of railway roads in the whole city to served the requirement of moving goods out of and into ports.

By air

The main airport serving Haiphong is Cat Bi International Airport, with three flights a day to Ho Chi Minh city. Recently, in April, 2011 Vietnam Airlines has just opened a new flight which connects Haiphong and Da Nang with 5 flights a week. According to the plan of Vietnam government, there will be an international airport in Haiphong which is located in Tien Lang district. This is planned to be the biggest airport in North Vietnam.

Health[edit]

Wiki letter w.svg This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (April 2011)

Information technology[edit]

Haiphong now deploy every information of the authority on the city's portal :http://haiphong.gov.vn. Haiphong also is one of the most famous place of outsourcing software projects from foreign countries (the 3 others being Hochiminh city, Danang and Hanoi). Some companies and corporations of outsourcing: An Biên soft, P.I.T Việt, Vigoor, Hapecom,... This is consider as the special priority of authorities when providing this high-tech field much of welfare for information technology company and corporation (not only software but also hardware) when working here. As plan, the major orientation for Haiphong in the future is concentrating on information technology and the other is portal services. It is believed that in this city will be the outstanding place for computer science.

Education[edit]

Vietnam Maritime University Haiphong privade University

Notable people[edit]

Twin towns and sister cities[edit]

Gallery[edit]
Du Hang Pagoda 
Du Hang Pagoda Architecture 
The City's Opera House 
A Buddhist temple in Hai Phong. 
Haiphong Cathedral (2007) 
Haiphong City International Exhibition Center 

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b [www.haiphongtourism.gov.vn/about-hai-phong/haiphongs-culture/a.html Haiphong's Culture]. HaiphongTourism.gov.vn
  2. ^ Vietnam By Spencer C. Tucker, page 47. "On 23 November DebeS delivered an ultimatum to the Vietnamese at Haiphong, ordering them to withdraw from the French section of the city, the Chinese quarter, and the port. He gave them only two hours to reply. When the time was up the French subjected the Vietnamese positions to air, land, and sea bombardment, the bulk of the firepower coming from the three- and eight-inch guns of the French Navy Cruiser Suffren. Only military targets were destroyed and not the Vietnamese quarter as some have claimed. Estimates of the number killed in the shelling and ensuing panic vary widely. Casualties up to 20,000 have been cited. French Admiral Batter later said that no more than 6,000 Vietnamese had died, but in 1981 Vu Quoc Uy, then chairman of the Haiphong municipal committee, told Stanley Karnow that the figure was only 500 to 1,000 dead. Others have put the figure as low as 200".
  3. ^ (French) Maurice Vaïsse, L'Armée française dans la guerre d'Indochine (1946–1954) : Adaptation ou inadaptation, 2000, p. 276
  4. ^ Plon, Le General de Gaulle et l'Indochine 1940–1946, page 210. "In connection with the naval bombardment, let us note that only the ships of small tonnage could go up the river of Haiphong. On November 23, two colonial sloops supported for the first time the French troops with their artillery to a limited effect: the Chevreuil with its double turret, with its two pairs of 100mm, Savorgnan de Brazza with its four turrets each of one 138mm. No battleship was present. On November 27 on that the evening, the cruiser Suffren was in the Bay d' Along, its tidal water prohibiting it access of the Cua Cam. It transported troops in reinforcement..."
  5. ^ Phillippe Devillers, Histoire du Viêt-Nam de 1940 à 1952. Editions du Seuil, Paris. Third edition,1952, pp. 331–340
  6. ^ Interview with Thomas H. Moorer, 1981 "We took about twenty-six aircraft off of one aircraft carrier, and they were airborne about an hour and a half, and we mined Hai Phong Harbor, and not one ship entered or left ah, that Harbor until we, ourselves, removed the mines. No one person was hurt, or in any way...", http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/vietnam-59ce8c-interview-with-thomas-h-moorer-1981
  7. ^ Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs (May 27, 2010). "Background Note: Vietnam". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2010-06-21. 
  8. ^ a b The 2009 Vietnam Population and Housing census: Major findings. General Statistics Office of Vietnam.
  9. ^ a b c Haiphong Climate Guide, Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  10. ^ Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Haiphong, Weatherbase. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
  11. ^ Atlat Dia li Viet Nam (Geographical Atlas of Vietnam). NXB Giao Duc, Hanoi: 2010
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h General Statistics Office (2009): Socio-economic Statistical Data of 63 Provinces and Cities, Vietnam. Statistical Publishing House, Hanoi
  13. ^ calculations based on General Statistics Office (2009): Socio-economical Statistical Data of 63 Provinces and Cities. Statistical Publishing House, Hanoi
  14. ^ "VSIP starts work on integrated township in Haiphong". The Saigon Times. 2010-01-15. Retrieved 2012-01-07. 
  15. ^ "Japan’s Bridgestone to build tire plant in Haiphong". The Saigon Times. 2011-12-23. Retrieved 2012-01-07. 
  16. ^ "Lốp xe Bridgestone sẽ được sản xuất tại Việt Nam". The Saigon Times. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2012-01-07. 
  17. ^ "PVTex to operate first polyester fiber project early 2011". The Saigon Times. 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2011-07-06. 
  18. ^ Haiphong Port: Maps

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Haiphong
Hai Duong province Quang Ninh province
  Haiphong  
Thai Binh province Gulf of Tonkin
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Coordinates: 20°51′N 106°41′E / 20.850°N 106.683°E / 20.850; 106.683

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