An Giang

 AN GIANG PROVINCE

Square:  3536,8 km2

Population:  2149,5 thousands people (2010)

City: Long Xuyen City.

Town: Chau Doc.

Districts: An Phu, Tan Chau, Phu Tan, Chau Phu, Tinh Bien, Tri Ton, Cho Moi, Chau Thanh, Thoai Son.

OVERVIEW:

An Giang is located west of the Mekong Delta between the Tien Giang and Hau Giang Rivers and shares a 95-km border with Cambodia. It is next to the Cuu Long River and consists of a few midland areas and low mountains.

The main ethnic groups found in the province are the Kinh, Khmer, Cham, and Hoa. The region is located in a monsoon tropical climate where the annual average temperature varies between 26 and 28°C. The two distinct seasons are the dry season, from December to April, and the rainy season, from May to November. Floods often occur from the middle of August to the middle of November.

An Giang is criss-crossed by many rivers and canals which make a convenient water transport system. The two tributaries of the Mekong river, the Tien and the Hau, run across the province. They deliver millions of cubic meters of alluvium annually to the region. As a result, the deposits have formed several islets which are extremely fertile and covered with lush green vegetation.

An Giang is the location where many relics belonging to the Oc Eo Civilization have been excavated. Many archaeologists have concluded that An Giang was the location of a bustling commercial sea port built with many major architectural projects which can be traced back to the first century. This conclusion has glorified the province as a one time economically and culturally prosperous locality.

An Giang has long been famous for its traditional occupation of mulberry growing, silkworm raising and silk weaving. Famous sites and attractions include An Giang Museum in Long Xuyen, Ba Sam Temple Festival at Sam Mountain in Chau Doc, and Cam Mountain in Binh Tien.

GEOGRAPHY:

An Giang Province is located to the west of the Mekong Delta between the Tien and Hau rivers and shares a 100km border with Cambodia in the north - west. It also shares border with Dong Thap Province in the east, Cantho City in the south - east, and Kien Giang Province in the south - west.

An Giang has two main types of topography: midland areas and low mountains. The low mountains is Bay Nui (Seven Mountains) in Tinh Bien and Tri Ton districts. Vinh Te Tunnel runs along with the province's border in the west, which connects from Chau Doc to Ha Tien.

CLIMATE:

An Giang is divided into two seasons: the rain (from May to November), and the dry (from December to April next year). The annual average temperature varies 27ºC. The highest temperature is 35ºC - 37ºC from April to May and the lowest ones is 20ºC - 21ºC from December to January next year. The annual rainfall is 1,400 - 1,500mm.

TOURISM:

An Giang is main province in rice output. The province also has corn and aquatic products as basa fish, shrimp, cuttle... An Giang is also renowned as traditional handicraft such as Tan Chau silk, Chau Doc fish sauce and other consume products. Especially, long-standing handicraft weaves fabric industry of Cham ethnic group.

An Giang is famous for particular festivals as Ba Chua Xu, Chol Chnam Thomay, Dolta festival and ox racing. Other famous sites and attractions include Sam Mountain in Chau Doc, Cam Mountain in Tien Binh, Tuc Dup Hill, grottoes network of Thuy Dai Son, Anh Vu Son, Co To, and many historical vestiges.

TRANSPORTATION:

An Giang has a relatively convenient land and water transport system. National Road 91 connects to Cam-pu-chia. Buses run from Chau Doc to Long Xuyen, Cantho, and other destinations in the Mekong Delta.

Long Xuyen City is 62km from Cantho, 125km from My Tho, and 190km from Ho Chi Minh City. Chau Doc Town is 96km from Ha Tien, 117km from Cantho, 179km from My Tho, and 245km from Ho Chi Minh City.