Hà Tiên facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hà Tiên
Thành phố Hà Tiên
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| Hà Tiên City | |
Hà Tiên town square
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 Hà Tiên
Location in Vietnam
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| Country |  Vietnam |
| Admin. division | Kiên Giang Province |
| Area | |
| • Total | 100.49 km2 (38.80 sq mi) |
| Population
(2019)
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| • Total | 100,560 |
| • Density | 1,000.70/km2 (2,591.79/sq mi) |
Hà Tiên is a city in Kiên Giang Province, located in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. It covers an area of about 100 square kilometers. In 2019, its population was around 81,576 people. The city is very close to the border with Cambodia in the west. Hà Tiên is a popular place for tourists because of its beautiful beaches and scenic views.
Contents
What Does Hà Tiên Mean?
The name "Hà Tiên" comes from old Vietnamese words. It means "river spirit" or "river fairy." This name likely refers to a special guardian spirit of the Giang-thành river.
A Look at Hà Tiên's History
Hà Tiên has been an important place for a very long time. Ancient maps show a town here called Akadra. This town was a port for a Cambodian area known as Pithonobaste.
The local capital of this area was called Banteay Meas. It was not right on the coast. The name Banteay Meas means "golden ramparts." This refers to the bamboo walls that once protected the town.
Early Names of the City
The town of Hà Tiên was first known by its Khmer name, Piem or Peam. This word means "port," "harbor," or "river mouth." The Vietnamese people at the time called it Mang-Kham.
Some old writings mistakenly called Hà Tiên "Panthaimas." This was actually the name of the larger district it was in. You might see it spelled in many different ways, like Ponteamass or Banthaimat.
How Hà Tiên Was Founded
Hà Tiên was started by a small group of Chinese people. They were led by a man named Mo Jiu (Mạc Cửu). These people were supporters of the old Ming Dynasty and were against the new Qing Dynasty.
When they arrived in southern Vietnam, the local leaders, called the Nguyễn lords, helped them. The Nguyễn lords asked the king of Cambodia to give land to these Chinese settlers.
The settlers built markets and turned the area into a busy trading town. Over time, more Vietnamese people moved there. Later, Mo Jiu gave control of the town to the Nguyễn Lords. This is when the name Hà Tiên, meaning "River Spirit," was given to the town.
Hà Tiên's Weather
Hà Tiên has a warm climate all year round. The average temperature is about 26.7 degrees Celsius. It gets a lot of rain, especially from May to November. The driest months are January and February.
Hà Tiên's Economy
Hà Tiên has some important industries. About 22 kilometers south of the city, in Kiên Lương, there is a very large cement factory. This factory has been operating for many years. It was one of the biggest industrial projects when it started being built in 1961.
Getting Around Hà Tiên
Hà Tiên is a hub for travel, connecting people to other parts of Vietnam and even Cambodia.
Travel by Road
You can travel to Hà Tiên by bus. Buses connect the city to Rạch Giá, which is the capital of the province. You can also find buses to many other towns in the Mekong Delta, like Châu Đốc, Can Tho, and Saigon.
Travel by Sea
If you want to visit Phú Quốc island, there are fast ferries from Hà Tiên every day. The trip takes about 80 to 90 minutes. During the busy dry season, more boats run more often.
There are also car ferries that can take vehicles to Phú Quốc island. These ferries usually run from early morning until evening. The car ferry trip takes about 2.5 hours.
Crossing the Border
Hà Tiên has an international border crossing with Cambodia. It's called the Hà Tiên International Border Gate. This crossing is about 7 kilometers west of the city. On the Cambodian side, it's known as the Prek Chak International Border Checkpoint.
The border crossing opened in 2007 and is open from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Foreigners can also use this border crossing if they have a Vietnamese e-Visa.
Images for kids
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Mạc Cửu mausoleum
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Drawing of Hà Tiên citadel in the Nguyễn dynasty
