Lang Son Province

Lang Son Province

Lạng Sơn ( listen) is a province in far northern Vietnam, bordering Guangxi Province in China. Its capital is also called Lang Son, which is a strategically important town at the border with China and is 137 kilometres (85 mi) northeast of Hanoi connected by rail and road. Lang Son Province is bounded by China in the north, Cao Bang Province borders the northwest, Ha Bac Province on the south, Quang Ninh Province starting on the south and extending to the eastern border and Thái Nguyên province to the west. The province covers an area of 8327.6 square kilometres and as of 2008 it had a population of 759,000 people.

Lang Son Province, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Bắc Giang, Bắc Kạn, Cao Bang, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang and Yen Bai of the Đông Bắc (Northeastern Region) are all part of the 59 administrative provinces and 5 municipalities in Vietnam.

Ancient history of the province is linked to the Bronze Age when the trade route that existed between China and India that passed from the Red River Delta through Nanning to Guangzhou. The province was one of the 13 original provinces in northern Vietnam created under the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng in 1831.

Friendship Gate, the historical land link between China and Vietnam, links Lạng Sơn and Guangxi, China. Being a border province, it is important for trade between the two countries. It is accessible by road and rail from Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, and it is the northernmost point on National Road 1A. Lang Son's economy is 80% based on agriculture and forestry. However, in recent years economic development has received full attention to exploit its rich mineral resources.

The most important tree grown in the province is the star anise (illicium verum, Hooker), an important spice; an evergreen tree which has aromatic lanceolate leaves.

Important historical places of interest in the province are the war ravaged Dong Don Border town, which has rich war history and attracts visitors, two large lime stone caves within a short distance from the Long Son town, and a 16th century citadel of the Ming Dynasty.