Ca Mau Province

Detail

Ca Mau Province:

Ca Mau Province is a coastal province located in the southernmost part of Vietnam, situated in the Mekong Delta region. The entire area of Cà Mau is located on the Cà Mau Peninsula. In 2019, Cà Mau ranked 26th in terms of population among the administrative units in Vietnam, 41st in terms of Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) on its territory, and 38th in terms of per capita GRDP. With a population of 1,229,600, the GRDP of Cà Mau reached 53,229 billion Vietnamese Dong (equivalent to 2.3118 billion USD), and the per capita GRDP stood at 47.1 million Vietnamese Dong (equivalent to 2,028 USD). The GRDP growth rate was 7.00%.

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The Ca Mau Province is a relatively young land that has been developed for just over 300 years. It was initially explored by Mac Cuu, who led a group of Chinese immigrants to the Cà Mau region. After Mac Cuu offered the entire land to the Nguyen Dynasty, his son, Mac Thien Tu, followed the order of the Nguyen court and established the Long Xuyen administrative division. After several administrative changes, on January 1, 1997, Cà Mau province was reestablished according to the Resolution of the 10th session of the 9th National Assembly held on November 6, 1996, regarding the adjustment of administrative boundaries, dividing the Minh Hai province into Cà Mau and Bạc Liêu provinces.

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Geographically of Ca Mau Province:

Geographical location

– The eastern side is adjacent to the East Sea, with a coastline of 107 km.

– The western and southern sides are adjacent to the Gulf of Thailand, with a coastline of 147 km.

– The northern side borders Bac Lieu and Kien Giang provinces.

The mainland territory of Cà Mau province is situated between the coordinates of 8o34′ – 9o33′ north latitude and 105o25′ – 104o43′ east longitude. The extreme points of the province are:

– Easternmost point: 105o25′ east longitude, located in Tan Thuan commune, Dam Doi district.

– Westernmost point: 104o43′ east longitude, located in Dat Mui commune, Ngoc Hien district.

– Southernmost point: 8o34′ north latitude, located in Vien An commune, Ngoc Hien district.

– Northernmost point: 9o33′ north latitude, located in Bien Bach commune, Thoi Binh district.

Cà Mau City is located on the National Highway 1 and National Highway 63. It is part of the Key Economic Zone in the Mekong Delta region. The province has a coastline of nearly 254 km, including 107 km along the East Sea and 147 km along the West Sea. The Cà Mau Sea borders the seas of countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and it serves as a hub for international maritime activities in Southeast Asia.

Natural condition:

Cà Mau, a low-lying land prone to flooding, is characterized by five main types of soil: saline soil, peat soil, alluvial soil, brackish soil, and canal soil.

The Cà Mau Forest consists of mangrove forests along the 254 km coastline and inland melaleuca forests spanning 35,000 hectares in U Minh, Tran Van Thoi, and Thoi Binh districts. The mangrove forests in Cà Mau account for 77% of the Mekong Delta’s mangrove forests.

Cà Mau province experiences a tropical monsoon climate, with high average temperatures compared to other provinces in the Mekong Delta. It has two distinct seasons: the rainy season from May to November and the dry season from December to April. The average annual rainfall is 2,360 mm, with 165 rainy days per year. The average annual humidity is 85.6% and the average temperature is 26.5°C. The highest average temperature occurs in April (27.6°C), while the lowest average temperature is in January (25°C). The average sea temperature is 27°C.

Cà Mau Peninsula is a triangular-shaped landmass, stretching up to 130 miles with an average elevation of 7 feet above sea level. It formed primarily from sediment deposition by the Mekong River and the formation of Mui Bai at the peninsula’s tip.

Cà Mau has a tropical savanna climate (Koppen: Aw), with high humidity throughout the year except for two to three months of relatively dry winter.

The Cà Mau Archipelago includes Hòn Khoai, which consists of five closely situated islands: Hòn Khoai, Hòn Sao, Hòn Đồi Mồi, Hòn Tương, and Hòn Đá Lẻ. Additionally, there is Hòn Đá Bạc and Hòn Ông Ngộ.

Cà Mau, with its unique natural conditions and diverse ecosystems, is a fascinating destination for nature lovers and adventurers.

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Economy:

Despite initial poor economic and social conditions, Cà Mau has experienced significant growth and transformation. The agricultural sector’s dominance has decreased to 8%, while industry and services have flourished at 43% and 49% respectively.

In agriculture, rice cultivation covered a substantial portion of the province’s crop area, yielding 532,000 tons in 2011. Livestock farming faced challenges, with a shift towards shrimp farming due to feed shortages and salinity issues.

Cà Mau boasts concentrated forests and vast aquaculture areas, with aquaculture production increasing by 4.4 times since 1997. Shrimp farming dominates the sector, while seafood capture focuses on offshore fishing for sustainability.

Industrial and handicraft production has grown exponentially, with a value of 17,500 billion VND in 2011. Budget revenue and electricity production have also shown positive trends.

By 2019, Cà Mau’s GDP experienced a 7% increase, with a diverse economic landscape. Social investment and budget revenue exceeded expectations, driving development in agriculture, industry, and services. The province has demonstrated its potential for growth and economic prosperity.

Social:

Population:

Ca Mau province, located in the Mekong Delta region, is the 9th most populous province. Its population decreased by 12,462 people over 10 years. The average population growth rates were 2.32% from 1989 to 1999, 0.76% from 1999 to 2009, and -0.10% from 2009 to 2019.

As of April 1, 2019, Cà Mau had a total population of 1,194,476, with males accounting for 50.64% and females for 49.36%. The urban population constituted 22.69% of the total, while the rural population comprised 77.31%. The urbanization rate reached 28.4% by 2022.

The majority of the population in Cà Mau is of the Kinh ethnicity (97.19%), followed by the Khmer (2.19%) and the Hoa (0.53%). Other ethnic groups make up the remaining 0.1%.

Cà Mau has a population density of 229 people per square kilometer, lower than the regional average (423 people per square kilometer) and the national average (290 people per square kilometer). The city of Cà Mau has the highest population density at 908 people per square kilometer, while Ngọc Hiển district has the lowest at 94 people per square kilometer.

Gender ratio

The gender ratio in Cà Mau is 102.6 males per 100 females, higher than the national and regional averages. The province has a “golden population structure” with 68.78% in the working-age group and 31.22% as dependents.

The crude birth rate in 2019 was 11.2 births per 1,000 people, and the sex ratio at birth was 102 boys per 100 girls, both lower than the national and regional averages. The average life expectancy in Cà Mau is 75.0 years, with males at 72.6 years and females at 77.5 years.

The living conditions of ethnic minority communities in Cà Mau have improved, with access to housing, clean water, employment opportunities, and education. Infrastructure development has focused on rural electrification, transportation, schools, healthcare facilities, and clean water supply. The poverty rate among ethnic minorities has decreased by 3-4% annually.

Education:

The literacy rate among individuals aged 15 and above is 96.6%, higher than the national and regional averages. The proportion of individuals with at least a secondary education is 18.2%, showing an increase compared to 2009.

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Religion

Cà Mau is home to various religious groups, including Buddhism, Catholicism, Protestantism, Cao Đài, and Hoa Hao. Various religious groups exist in the province, with Catholics being the largest (58.51%), followed by Buddhists (25.78%) and Cao Đài followers (8.76%). These communities actively engage in social welfare activities, supporting the poor, improving rural infrastructure, and providing healthcare services.

Overall, Cà Mau has made significant progress in improving the living standards and social conditions of its population. The province’s diverse ethnic groups contribute to its cultural diversity and unity.