Thái Nguyên facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thái Nguyên Thành phố Thái Nguyên
City (Class-1)
Thái Nguyên City
From top to bottom, from left to right: Thái Nguyên seen from above, city center, Museum of Vietnamese Ethnic Culture, Hồ Núi Cốc, Hang Pagoda
Seal
Nickname(s):  Thép City
Thái Nguyên Location in Vietnam
Country	Vietnam
Province	Thái Nguyên Province
Founded	October 19, 1962
Area
• Total	170.7 km2 (65.9 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	420,000
• Density	1,860/km2 (4,800/sq mi)
Climate	Cwa

Thái Nguyên is an important city in Vietnam. It is the main city and capital of Thái Nguyên Province. This city is considered a "first class city" and is the ninth largest in Vietnam. It is well-known for its special Tân Cương tea. Since 1959, it has also been home to Vietnam's first steel factory. Today, it has a large and growing group of universities.

History of Thái Nguyên City

Thái Nguyên played a big part in Vietnam's fight for independence when the French ruled the area.

The Thái Nguyên Uprising

In 1917, a major rebellion happened in Thái Nguyên. It was the biggest anti-colonial uprising in French Indochina for many years. In August 1917, Vietnamese prison guards at the Thái Nguyên Penitentiary rebelled. They freed prisoners, both regular criminals and political ones. Using weapons from the local army storage, the rebels took control of government buildings. They set up defenses and called for a general uprising. Even though they only held the city for five days, French forces struggled to regain control of the surrounding area for six months. Many people were hurt on both sides.

Role in the First Indochina War

During the First Indochina War, Thái Nguyên province was a safe zone for the Viet Minh. This safe zone was called ATK in Vietnamese. From 1956 until Vietnam was reunited in 1975, the city was the main base for the northern military region, known as Viet Bắc.

Becoming a City

Thái Nguyên started as a small town with about 140,000 people. On October 19, 1962, it officially became a city. Before that, it was part of a commune called Đồng Mô.

City Areas

Thái Nguyên City is divided into 21 wards and 11 communes. These are like different neighborhoods and smaller towns within the city.

Geography and Climate

Thái Nguyên City is located by the Cầu River. Its area is about 189.705 square kilometers. In 2018, about 420,000 people lived there.

Thái Nguyên Climate

Economy and Industry

Thái Nguyên City is famous for its high-quality green tea, especially from Tân Cương Commune. This tea is sold all over Vietnam and to other countries like Japan and Pakistan. In 2011, the city even held its first International Tea Festival to help sell more tea.

Steel Industry

In 1959, Thái Nguyên became a center for making metal products. This was because it had a lot of iron ore and coal. The Thái Nguyên Iron and Steel Company (TISCO) was created. In 1963, it produced its first iron. By 2011, it was making a lot of pig iron (a type of iron) and steel. TISCO now has many branches and thousands of employees. It sells steel to countries like Cambodia and Canada.

Electronics and High-Tech

Samsung Electronics has its largest mobile phone factory in Thái Nguyên. It opened in 2014 and employs over 60,000 people. This factory is very big, covering 100 hectares (about 250 acres).

Because of companies like Samsung, Thái Nguyên's exports grew a lot between 2013 and 2017. In 2020, the province had almost 7,200 businesses. The electronics and high-tech industries are doing very well, with more laptops and earphones being made.

Thái Nguyên's economy is growing fast. Industry and construction make up a big part of it. The city is also working to attract more eco-friendly and energy-efficient businesses.

New Investments

Many foreign companies are investing in Thái Nguyên. In 2020, a company from Hong Kong, DBG Technology, decided to build an $80 million factory there. This factory will make laptops, cameras, phones, and home appliances. It is expected to create over 10,000 jobs.

Also in 2020, China's Trina Solar got approval to produce solar power parts. This project is worth over $200 million and will create more than 1,800 jobs. A South Korean company, Samju Vina, also expanded its touchscreen factory in Thái Nguyên.

The province wants to attract more high-tech companies. It is improving its business environment to make it easier for investors.

Industrial Zones

Thái Nguyên has six industrial parks, which are large areas set aside for factories. Five of these parks already have funding. The province is also developing 35 smaller industrial clusters. They want to attract businesses that support big companies like Samsung, especially in electronics, high-precision mechanics, and textiles.

Education

Universities in Thái Nguyên

Thái Nguyên University (TNU) is one of Vietnam's main university systems in the northern mountain region. It has many campuses, similar to big cities like Hanoi. In 1994, all these learning centers joined together under one management.

TNU includes:

• Seven Colleges (like Education, Engineering, Medicine)
• A School of Foreign Languages
• An International School
• A teaching hospital
• Research institutes
• Centers for national defense education and international cooperation

TNU offers different levels of education, from basic university degrees to advanced studies. It also does research and community services.

Attractions

Museum of Cultures of Vietnam's Ethnic Groups

This museum is in Thái Nguyên City. It is the largest museum in Vietnam dedicated to the country's many ethnic groups. It covers a huge area and was started in 1960. Inside a pink building, you can see over 10,000 items that show the culture of Vietnam's 54 ethnic tribes. The museum is surrounded by large gardens where people often exercise.

Dai Phun Nuoc (Central Fountain)

This is a central fountain where families and young people gather on warm evenings. It has colorful lights, and you can even get your photo taken by a professional photographer on busy nights.

Heroes Monument

Close to the central fountain is the Heroes Monument. It is on a small hill. You can walk up the many steps to the top and enjoy views of the city.

Coffee Street

Just off the main street, you'll find Coffee Street. This short street has over 20 cafes where you can try delicious Vietnamese coffee.

Gallery

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  Giant teapot outside Tân Cương Tea Company

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  TISCO Iron and Steel main gate

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  Museum of Ethnic Cultures

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  Thái Nguyên University main administration building