Thai Nguyen City is a political, economic, cultural and social center of Thai Nguyen Province. Stretching along the Cau River, the City covers an area of 177.65 sq. km. This is home to 290,400 inhabitants with a density of 1,281 people per sq. km. The city of Thai Nguyen consists of 25 wards and communes, with 95 historical and cultural sites on the inventory.

The earliest human habitation of Thai Nguyen land dates back to prehistoric times. The findings of the research studies and archaeological excavations conducted recently at Than Sa Commune, Vo Nhai District, Thai Nguyen Province , including two critical archaeological vestiges: Phieng Tung Cave and Nguom Stone Roof, indicate that the inhabitants of “Nguom Technique”, the masters of Than Sa Culture, existed about B.C 40,000 to 23,000 years.

During the reign of Hung Emperor, Van Lang Kingdom was divided into 15 tribes, of which Thai Nguyen belonged to Vu Dinh tribe. Under the An Duong Vuong Dynasty, Thai Nguyen was the property of Au Lac land. The land of Thai Nguyen has experienced historic ups and downs. In 1822, Thai Nguyen County was changed into Thai Nguyen District. In 1831, Thai Nguyen District was renamed Thai Nguyen Province , consist of Bac Can land. However, the name of Thai Nguyen is left unchanged.

In 1900, the French divided Thai Nguyen into two provinces: Thai Nguyen and Bac Kan. In 1965, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam merged the two provinces into one ( Bac Thai Province ). On October 1, 1997 the province of Bac Thai again split into two provinces: Bac Kan and Thai Nguyen in accordance with the resolution issued by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

It is hoped that the above facts will help you find out more about the making of Thai Nguyen land.

+ Vietnam Museum of Ethnology

The museum is situated in the heart of Thai Nguyen City on an area of 39,000 sq. km. During the reign of the French Colony, it used to be the premise of the French mission in Thai Nguyen Province. The Museum overlooks the island in the city’s center. There is a large garden with many century-old trees at the back of the museum, making a shady surrounding, and the Cau River continually flowing downstream as a soft silk band.
The construction of the former Viet Bac (the North-West) Museum (now Vietnam Museum of Ethnology) started on December 19, 1960 and completed in 1962. It is considered the biggest and most beautiful architectural works in Thai Nguyen as well as one of the museums with grand architecture in Vietnam. Since its opening, the museum has become the pride of the Thai Nguyen’s people. With above 3,000 sq. m, the museum has preserved and displayed more than 10,000 artifacts and documents, which are a cultural heritage of the 54 Vietnamese nationalities. The museum encompasses five display halls, including:

All these halls have a rather perfect décor, combining the modern western display style with the traditional Vietnamese one. Have a look at the entire display system of the museum, you will learn about ethnology, physical and spiritual cultures and social life of the 54 Vietnam’s nationalities.

+ Doi Can Temple

Doi Can Temple is located on the historic mountain of Doi Can, Phu Lien Street, Hoang Van Thu Ward, Thai Nguyen City. Doi Can’ real name is Trinh Van Dat (1881-1919). He was born in Vinh Tuong District, former Vinh Yen Province (now Vinh Phuc Province). He joint the army in Vinh Yen. In 1910, Doi Can served in the army in Thai Nguyen Province where he made friend and acted as Luong Ngoc Quyen’s adviser. Between the night of 30th and the morning of 31st August 1917, Doi Can led the Thai Nguyen troops to oppose the French Colony in an armed uprising. The righteous men seized power in Thai Nguyen City with a motto “Fight for the national independence”. Raising a flag with a red five-pointed star on a yellow background, Commander-in-chief Trinh Can declared Thai Nguyen independent and named the Province Dai Hung as well as announced a program for defeating the French enemy to gain national independence and freedom.
The monument, built at the Doi Can historical and cultural site in the heart of Thai Nguyen City in memory of Thai Nguyen’s war heroes, became a tourist attraction in Thai Nguyen City.

+ Phu Lien Pagoda
Situated in Hoang Van Thu Ward, Thai Nguyen City, Phu Lien Pagoda covers an area of 3,500 sq. m in a high and beautiful terrain surrounded by fields and small lakes. It was built in the early 19th Century and restored several times. With the ancient architectural style, the pagoda has Buddha, temple of the Great Goddess Mother, ancestral altar, Old Tower and a holly statute of the Goddess of Mercy in the front. Every month, on the first day and the full moon day according to lunar calendar, pilgrims travel a long way over here. The pagoda’s festival is held on January 12 (according to lunar calendar). The religious ceremony is followed by folk games, such as tug-of-war, cock fighting and chess etc

"Source: thainguyetrade"