Thanh Hóa, Province in North Central Coast, Vietnam
Thanh Hóa is a province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam, located between Hanoi and the center of the country. The territory extends from the South China Sea in the east to the Annamite Range in the west, covering both fertile plains and forested uplands.
Archaeological findings along the Day and Ma Rivers show evidence of a Bronze Age settlement dating back roughly 6,000 years. This early Dong Son culture shaped the region long before modern provincial boundaries emerged.
Beyond the Kinh majority, Muong, Thai, Hmong, Dao, Tho and Kho-mu communities live in the hills and along the coast with their own languages and customs. Markets in smaller towns display textiles, crafts and foods made by these groups.
The provincial capital sits on the north-south railway line linking Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City, with regular train connections available. Visitors planning to explore the different landscape zones should allow enough time, as distances between the coast and mountain areas are considerable.
The Nghi Son economic zone hosts a major seaport and an oil refinery that processes a large quantity of crude oil each day. This industrial development shapes the eastern coastal stretch of the province and sets it apart from the rural hinterland.
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