Ha Tinh town was established in 1831 as the provincial capital of Ha Tinh province. It is at coordinates 18 - 18.24' North latitude and 105.53’'- 105.56' East longitude, 340km South of Hanoi and 50 km of Vinh city, 314 km North of Hue and 12.5 km from the East Sea. The town has a natural area of over 56 sq. kilometres, over 80,000 people and 15 administrative units (wards and communes).
Ha Tinh lies on the axis of North-South Highway 1A. By Road 3 to the West, the town is linked with Highway 15 leading to Laos, to the North along Highway 1A meeting with Highway 8A heading for Cau Treo border gate to Laos and Thailand, Road 22/12 turning to North-East and Road 26 to iron mine Thach Khe and Thach Hai coast, Road 17 to South-West connecting with Ho Chi Minh Highway. The town is surrounded by the Rao Cai river in the South and the Cay river in the North. The two rivers meet at Ho Do port and flow to the East Sea at Cua Sot river mouth. The land and river routes play an important role in socio-economic development as well as national security and defence.
As the political centre of the province, the town has administrative offices, schools, hospitals with all public utilities. It has a big commercial centre with 2,300 business households, three supermarkets, several hotels and restaurants. Many branches of commercial banks and credit organisations have operated efficient services in the town. The water supply station is being upgraded from 11,000 to 24,000 cubic metres a day. The town has a modern communication network, inter -provincial bus lines on Highway 1A, several landscapes, eco-tourism areas along Phu and Rao Cai rivers, and national historic and cultural relics such as Vo Mieu temple, memorial centres of President Ho Chi Minh, painter Nguyen Phan Chanh, etc. From the town, tourists can continue the visits to other famous places in the province.
In implementation of the Party resolutions of the central, provincial and town organisations and with the joint efforts of the people and related authorities, the town could maintain a growth rate of 13 per cent a year and a positive restructuring of the economy. The value of industry, construction, trade and service makes up the main part GDP while that of the agriculture is less than 9 per cent. Several models of aquaculture attained annual turnover of VND100 million per hectare. The revenue of 2004 was VND180 billion, with VND50 billion allocated to the town. Some VND100 billion were mobilised for the development of infrastructure. As a result, 100 per cent of the roads have been fortified asphalt and concrete, 100 per cent of households with electricity supply, 98 per cent of households with water supply, 100 per cent of schools upgraded and 75 per cent of streets achieving cultural criteria. The town is leading the province in education with highest percentage of excellent students and graduates in universities and vocational schools.
Presently, the town is striving to attain the criteria of city grade 3 in 2006, developing infrastructure near Thach Khe iron mine and steel complex, building the town into a city of industry and tourism. To increase the value and proportions of industry and service in the economy, the town is developing Bac Quy and Thach Ha handicraft zones, Ho Do river-port and Dong Mau craft village, expanding businesses such as Saigon - Ha Tinh beer joint venture, Viet Trung beer, 15-storey trade centre, eco-tourism, hotels and restaurants. It also plans to maximise the use of land, develop aquaculture combining with eco-tourism, diversifying investment resources for urban development and projects in North Nguyen Du, Hao Thanh, central park, Nai mountain area, ring roads, etc.
In implementation of the plan, the town will make the best use of all resources and advantages and calls on local and foreign partners to invest in business activities and the development of the town. For its part, the town will improve the investment formalities and offer best treatment to the investors.
Vietnamese
October 2024
Hanoi