Gia Viễn district Huyện Gia Viễn | |
|---|---|
 Path leading to Kênh Gà – Vân Trình Resort. | |
| Nickname: "Land of Dream Spring" (Miền suối mơ) | |
| Motto(s): "Birthplace of Kings and Saints" (Sinh vương sinh thánh) | |
 | |
| Country | Vietnam |
| Province | Ninh Bình |
| Establishment | 968 |
| Central hall | Me street, Thịnh Vượng township |
| Government | |
| • Type | Rural district |
| • People Committee's Chairman | Phạm Văn Tam |
| • People Council's chairman | Hoàng Mạnh Hùng |
| • Front Committee's chairman | Mai Thị Kim Dung |
| • Party Committee's Secretary | Hoàng Mạnh Hùng |
| Area | |
• Total | 177.31 km2 (68.46 sq mi) |
| Population (September 29, 2023) | |
• Total | 123,552 |
| • Density | 297/km2 (770/sq mi) |
| • Ethnicities | Kinh Tanka Mường Tày Nùng |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (Indochina Time) |
| ZIP code | 432200[note 1] |
| Climate | Cwa |
| Website | Giavien.Ninhbinh.gov.vn Giavien.Ninhbinh.dcs.vn |
Gia Viễn [zaː˧˧:viəʔən˧˥] is arural district ofNinh Bình province in theRed River Delta region ofVietnam.
In the last years of theTang Dynasty (866), the wharf of Hoàng Long River was one of the places where the raids of theCao Biền cavalry took place to deport theMashynzy forces fromAn Nam protectorate, thereby restoring the temporary peace after many years of riot. Cao Biền set up anadministrative unit calledĐại Hoàng canton (Đại Hoàng châu).[note 2]
According to the affirmation ofĐại Việt sử ký toàn thư, EmperorĐinh Hoàn allowed to establish in the Northwest of capitalTràng An anadministrative unit calledNhu Viễn rural district (Nhu Viễn huyện), belonged to Đại Hoàng canton, where has a position as an outpost (đất phên giậu) to protect the imperial citadel from attacks of theTai tribes.[1]
When EmperorLý Thái Tổ gave up Hoa Lư to set up new capitalThăng Long in 1009, Như Viễn was changed asAn Viễn rural district (An Viễn huyện).
TheMing Dynasty after acquiringAn Nam has changed An Viễn asTuy Viễn rural district (Tuy Viễn huyện) in 1408.
In the early stages of theLater Lê Dynasty, EmperorLê Thái Tông changed Tuy Viễn asGia Viễn rural district (Gia Viễn huyện) of Trường Yên prefecture (Trường Yên phủ), initially belonged toThanh Hoa garrison (Thanh Hoa trấn), then transferred to Sơn Nam province (Sơn Nam thừa tuyên).
Since the 12nd ofMinh Mệnh (1831), Gia Viễn rural district has belonged toNinh Bình province (Ninh Bình tỉnh).[2]
Under theState of Vietnam regime, Gia Viễn rural district was changed asGia Viễn district (quận Gia Viễn), belonged to Ninh Bình province of theCentral canton (Trung châu) in theNorthern Việt region (Bắc Việt).
On April 27, 1977, Gia Viễn was merged withNho Quan to becomeHoàng Long rural district (huyện Hoàng Long), belonged toHà Nam Ninh province.[note 3]
However, by April 9, 1981,Gia Viễn rural district (huyện Gia Viễn) was re-established.[3] Gia Vượng commune became the officially capital of Gia Viễn.
On April 1, 1986, Me township (thị trấn Me) was established based on the area of the two communes Gia Thịnh and Gia Vượng.[note 4] Because of that, it has another name as Thịnh Vượng township (means "the prosperous municipality") by the local folk.
On December 10, 2024, theStanding Committee of the National Assembly issued Resolution 1318/NQ-UBTVQH152008[note 5] on arranging district and commune-level administrative units ofNinh Bình province in the period of 2023–25, which is effective force from January 1, 2025. Accordingly :
Currently, Gia Viễn rural district includes 21 commune-level administrative units.
The rural district covers an area of 177.31 km2, with its terrain tends to be low from North to South. About 1/4 of its area is mountain, which is concentrated in the North and a little West.
Most of the remaining areas are mainly located around Cút swamp and Hoàng Long River, where are even lower than sea level, so they are always heavily flooded every time in the rainy season.[4]
Throughout its historical length, Hoàng Long river has a very important position in spirituality, customs and especially the trade of Gia Viễn rural district. The river only wanders around 25 km within the rural district before integrating intoĐáy River. Its name means "the yellow dragon", which refers to its shape and color of its water. This is also the only source ofalluvium, which fosters the fertility of the territory. However, this is also the biggest challenge for the survival of the communities that settled in the rural district, when the amount of water is always exceeding the threshold of endurance in the transition period from winter to spring and autumn to winter.[5]
According to the statistics of the Ninh Bình Provincial People's Committee in 2023, Gia Viễn rural district's population reached 123,512.
In the composition of the population, there are always three main groups : Kinh, Tanka and Mường.Mường people have occupied most of the population, before being replaced by Kinh and Tanka. Currently, theKinh group has won the majority position, while all other groups are only very low.
After theNorth frontier conflict temporarily settled down in 1984, the rural district's population structure had significantly fluctuated.Tanka people who have previously settled in traditional markets with a large number seeks to migrate from theNorthern Vietnam for each household, which receives implicit encouragement from local authorities. The families who remained, gradually registered themselves asKinh people to avoid all the harm from the authorities. Besides, there was a significant number of groups Tày and Nùng who have been refugees fromCao Bằng,Lạng Sơn andQuảng Ninh, where was very dangerous by the mutual ambush between the two countries.[6]
The territory of Gia Viễn rural district is part of the Đồng Chưa Deanery (giáo hạt Đồng Chưa), belonged the Phát Diệm Diocese (giáo phận Phát Diệm).[note 6]
The beliefs and customs in Gia Viễn rural district are generally diverse by the contribution of many differentethnic groups. Therefore, researchers often evaluate the main features of traditional practices in this rural district based on religion.
Before Christianity began to penetrate by sea, the area of Gia Viễn as well as most of the situation of the Southern region of theCentral canton, where the competition and even the mutual influence of the religionsBuddhism andTaoism. That phenomenon has left a large amount of thepagoda and temple. According to each historical period, even these architectural works are constantly changing the function to meet the spiritual needs of a believers.[7]
For example, like Hoa Lư, Gia Viễn belongs to the very small number of Vietnamese localities that still maintain the custom of worshiping theJade Emperor, because many temples have been renovated into pagodas in the mid 20th century.[8]
Contrary to the harsh situation of nature, Gia Viễn has a surprisingly rich in historical sites, cultural heritage of model construction. In their research articles, ProfessorLiam C. Kelley called this land as a place with "the curvature of history"[note 7], while DoctorTrần Trọng Dương called "the capacitor of history"[note 8].
With its terrain always suffering from muddy situation, Gia Viễn rural district has the characteristics of many dishes from brackish water.
Starting in the decade of 2010, the rural district has developed two new specialties : Yellowsweetpotatoes from Hoàng Long river wharf and mountain goats from the area of Kênh Gà – Vân Long.
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Although the river system is not interlaced and there is no sea, Gia Viễn rural district is connected to theĐáy River through Hoàng Long river, so the shipbuilding is a relatively long-standing profession of the rural district. Even so, far, it has always been prioritized as a strategic industry.[10]
In the area of Gia Viễn rural district, there is also a profession of manufacturing products from bamboo, especiallynón tơi.[11] Immediately after theCOVID-19 pandemic, due to the influence of the trend of Vietnamese classical costumes on social networks, artisans from Thịnh Vượng township (former Gia Vượng commune) have researched to restorehorse hats (馬笠, nón mê).[12] It is originally a form of thenón tơi, but its rim is wider and harder, and its tip is always covered with iron. This type of hat belonged to the cavalry, then became popular for officials and nobles by its optimization.[13]
Another feature to identify Gia Viễn, what is the market. It is not only associated with the livelihood of the people but also includes many cultural meanings. Although the district's market system is not ranked high in the measure of infrastructure, it has richness and convenience. Any market is maintained on a very modest product, but they almost meet practical needs. So far, the District People's Committee is still seeking to preserve them by the significant contribution to the national treasury and the continuous improvement of the living standards of the people.[14]
Currently, to keep up with the policy of theGovernment of Vietnam on the conversion of the nature of the economy (chính-sách chuyển-đổi cơ-cấu kinh-tế),[15][16] the leadership ofNinh Bình province has tried to give suggestions and financial advocacy to help Gia Viễn rural district can build three industrial parks with average scale.[17]
20°19′59″N105°52′59″E / 20.333°N 105.883°E /20.333; 105.883
