Thanh Hoa Province

Geography of Thanh Hoa province:

Geographical Location

Thanh Hoá province is strategically positioned within the geographical coordinates of 19°18′ to 20°40′ North latitude and 104°22′ to 106°05′ East longitude, as accurately measured by the Mapping Department.

It shares its borders to the North with Sơn La, Hòa Bình, and Ninh Bình provinces, To the South with Nghệ An province, To the West with Hủa Phăn province of Laos, with a border spanning 192 kilometers, And to the East, Thanh Hoá opens up to the central part of the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea, boasting a coastline stretching over 102 kilometers.

Within Thanh Hoá province lie some remarkable extreme points: The Northernmost point can be found in Trung Sơn commune, Quan Hóa district, The Easternmost point resides in Nga Điền commune, Nga Sơn district, The Westernmost point lies in Quang Chiểu commune, Mường Lát district, And the Southernmost point rests in Nam Hà hamlet, Hải Hà commune, Nghi Sơn town.

Thanh Hoá encompasses a natural area of 11,120.6 square kilometers, divided into three distinct regions: coastal plains, midland, and mountainous areas. Additionally, the province boasts an extensive continental shelf spanning 18,000 square kilometers.

In terms of both size and population, Thanh Hoá stands as one of the largest provinces in Vietnam, ranking fifth in area and third in population among the centrally administered provinces. Moreover, it is revered as one of the earliest ancestral habitats of the ancient Vietnamese people.

Topographic:

The terrain of Thanh Hoá slopes from the Northwest to the Southeast. In the Northwest, the high mountains, ranging from 1000 to 1500 meters, gradually decrease and extend towards the Southeast. The hilly and mountainous areas account for three-quarters of the province’s total area, presenting significant economic potential in forestry, abundant timber resources, and diverse natural resources. Based on its topography, Thanh Hoá can be divided into different regions:

Mountainous and midland region:

This region occupies the majority of Thanh Hoá’s territory. The midland region, however, is narrow, fragmented, and less distinct compared to the Northern region. Hence, many researchers do not separate the midland region of Thanh Hoá as a distinct geographical entity but consider the low mountains as an inseparable part of the overall mountainous region.

The hilly and mountainous region, which covers two-thirds of Thanh Hoá’s area, is divided into three different parts encompassing 11 districts:

Nhu Xuan, Nhu Thanh, Thuong Xuan, Lang Chanh, Ba Thuoc, Quan Hoa, Quan Son, Muong Lat, Cam Thuy, Thạch Thanh, and Ngoc Lac. The Western hilly and mountainous region has a cool climate and abundant rainfall, resulting in abundant forestry resources. Moreover, it has significant hydroelectric potential, with the Chu River and its tributaries providing favorable conditions for the construction of hydroelectric power plants. The Southern hilly and mountainous region consists of low hills, fertile soil, and is favorable for the development of industrial and forestry crops. It is also home to the Bến En National Park, located in Như Thanh and Như Xuân districts, boasting well-developed forests with valuable timber and precious wildlife.

The plain area of Thanh Hoa is the largest in Central Vietnam and the third largest in the country. The Thanh Hoa plain possesses all the characteristics of a delta region, formed by the sedimentation of the Mã River, Yên River, and Hoạt River systems. The lowest point of the plain, in comparison to sea level, is 1 meter.

Coastal region: Stretching along the coast from Nga Son, Hau Loc, Hoang Hoa, Sam Son, Quang Xauong to Nghi Son, this area comprises marshy zones in Nga Son and the mouths of rivers such as Hoat, Ma, Yen, and Lach Bang. The coastal strip is long and relatively flat, with the famous Sam Son beach and vast tracts of land suitable for coastal development, aquaculture, and the establishment of service areas, industrial zones, and marine economic development (Nga Son, Nam Sam Son, Nghi Son).

Natural resource:

Economy of Thanh Hoa province:

According to the calculated and announced data by the General Statistics Office, the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) in Thanh Hoa province is estimated to have increased by 12.51% in 2022 compared to 2021 (preliminary data shows a 13.52% increase in the first 6 months and an estimated 11.59% increase in the last 6 months). The agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector increased by 3.65%; the industry and construction sector increased by 16.33% (with the industrial sector alone increasing by 17.88%); the services sector increased by 10.18%; and product taxes excluding subsidies increased by 16.90%.

In terms of economic structure in 2022, the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector accounted for 14.42%, a decrease of 1.79%; the industry and construction sector accounted for 48.41%, an increase of 3.17%; the services sector accounted for 30.40%, a decrease of 1.65%; and product taxes excluding subsidies accounted for 6.78%, an increase of 0.27% compared to 2021.

The per capita GRDP in 2022, based on current prices, is estimated to reach 67.88 million Vietnamese dong, equivalent to 2,924 US dollars.

Agriculture, forestry, and aquaculture production:

Agriculture:

a1) Annual crops:

• The total area of annual crops in 2022 reached 395.2 thousand hectares, exceeding the plan by 0.3% but decreasing by 1.5% compared to the same period last year.
• Rice productivity reached 60.7 tons/ha, exceeding the plan by 3.7% but decreasing by 0.4% compared to the same period.
• Corn achieved a yield of 47.6 tons/ha, exceeding the plan by 2.3%.
• Peanut achieved a yield of 22.6 tons/ha, exceeding the plan by 2.7%.
• Soybean achieved a yield of 15.5 tons/ha, increasing by 0.4%.
• Sugarcane achieved a yield of 645.5 tons/ha, reaching 99.3% of the plan.

a2) Perennial crops:

• The area of fruit trees such as tea, rubber, oranges, and mangoes increased compared to the previous year.
• The area of industrial crops tended to decrease.
• The tea production reached 1,556 tons, an increase of 4.9% compared to the same period.
• Rubber production reached 2,842 tons, an increase of 0.4% compared to the same period.
• Orange production reached 12,950 tons, an increase of 2.1% compared to the same period.
• Mango production reached 998 tons, an increase of 6.5% compared to the same period.

b) Livestock:

• Livestock farming in the province is relatively stable, with no disease outbreaks among cattle, poultry, and animals.
• The high price of animal feed and unstable product prices pose difficulties for the livestock industry.
• The number of livestock and poultry increased compared to the previous year.
• Pork, poultry eggs, and cow milk production increased compared to the previous year.

Forestry:

In 2022, with the regular guidance from relevant departments, forestry seed production units prepared various types of tree seeds to ensure sufficient saplings for the Lunar New Year tree planting campaign “Forever Grateful to Uncle Ho” and the spring forest planting season. Alongside the efforts of forestry households, the forestry production results increased significantly compared to the same period.

Estimated in 2022, the concentrated newly planted forest area reached 12.7 thousand hectares, an increase of 1.9% compared to the same period (5.2% increase in the first half of the year, 6.1% increase in the third quarter, and 5.4% increase in the fourth quarter). Among them, productive forests accounted for 12.5 thousand hectares, a 1.9% increase, and protected forests accounted for 0.19 hectares, a 3.3% increase. Forest exploitation recorded 830 thousand cubic meters of timber, an 18.8% increase compared to the same period (12.1% increase in the first half of the year, 22.6% increase in the third quarter, and 24.1% increase in the fourth quarter).

Firewood extraction reached 1,350 thousand steres, a 5.8% increase (2.6% increase in the first half of the year, 7.6% increase in the third quarter, and 10.8% increase in the fourth quarter). Bamboo shoots amounted to 62.5 million pieces, a 7.0% increase, and paper production materials reached 82.5 thousand tons, a 3.8% increase compared to the same period.

Regular forest protection and fire prevention efforts received constant attention and guidance from relevant departments, with continuous coordination between localities and project management boards to raise awareness and engage the public in forest protection and development. In 2022, there were no forest fires in the province, ensuring the forest security was maintained.