Yen Bai

Yen Bai has artificial Thac Ba Lake, a scenic spot as well as a historical place. The lake consists of 1,331 hill-islands, varies vegetation cover and a diverse ecological setting. In the middle of the lake stands the Mong Son Grotto, home of the Yen Bai Party Committee during the anti-American resistance. Coming to there, tourists are able to relax in the lake, climb the mountain and explore the forests. Visitors are attracted to Dong Cuong and Dai Cai temples. Archaeologists have found many remains of the Son Vi culture in the Dong Cuong Temple area. Dai Cai Temple was built on a large area covered with many green trees and beautiful riverside roads.

Yên Bái covers an area of 6,899.5 km2 (2,663.9 sq mi), and the Red River passes through the province. Yên Bái is a mountain province, characterised by rugged mountainous scenery and green rice paddy fields in the valleys. The Hoàng Liên Sơn mountain range runs through the province. The Red (or Thao) River and Chay River flow the province. Their origin is in the Yunnan, China. The valley created by these two river systems in the Yen bai Province is fertile, though an uneven territory; Muong Lo plain is the rice bowl of the province.

The topography is steep, rising from east to west and from south to north. The average elevation is about 600 metres (2,000 ft) above sea level and can be divided into two regions: low-lying regions on the left bank of the Red River basin and the high right bank of the Red River and in the plateau between the Red River and Da River there are many mountains. Besides the two main rivers, the Red and the Da, the province has about 200 canals, small streams and large lakes and swamps. Thac Ba Lake is situated in the province, a artificial lake which has an area of 23,400 hectares (90 sq mi) and 1,331 islands and hills.It has a capacity of 3 to 3.9 billion cubic meters of water and its original intention was to run the Thac Ba hydroelectric plant, one of the first large hydropower projects in Vietnam. The water in the lake is blue and clear, and reflects the surrounding green forests. The thousands of hills and islands have many caves, including Hum, Cau Cuoi and Bach Xa. A Thac Ba Temple is located in the lake area.Thac Ba Lake has changed the climatic pattern in the western districts of the province, to a moderate condition from its hot and dry status.

The main ecozones of the province are rainforest, subtropical and temperate mountainous zones. It experiences a tropical monsoon season. The 20,293 hectares (78.35 sq mi) conservation area Mu Cang Chai Species / Habitat Conservation Area (MCC SHCA) was established in 2004 to protect the endangered mountain wildlife in Cang Chai district on the border of Lào Cai Province.

The mean temperature in the province at elevations above 1500m is about 20 °C (68 °F) and drops to 0 °C (32 °F) with frost and snow in some parts. December–January are winter months when the climate is dry. Frequent drizzle is experienced during late winter months; this type of rain has earned Yen Bai the epithet "drizzle centre of the country”. April to December are summer months and the rainy period. The mean temperature is stable for the district as a whole and is in the range of 18 °C (64 °F) to 28 °C (82 °F).

Population

According to preliminary results of the census of population and housing 01/04/2009, the total provincial population is 752,868 people. The average population density in 2008 was 109 persons/km2, concentrated in some urban areas such as Yen Bai city, Nghia Lo town and district capitals.

According to survey data, Yen Bai province has 30 ethnic groups live, in which seven ethnic population of over 10,000 people. 2 people have between 2,000 - 5,000 people, three people with 500 -2000 people. Of which the Kinh account for 49.6%, accounting for 18.58% of the Tay, Dao occupied 10.31%, accounting for 8.9% Hmong Thais occupied 6.7%, up 1% of the Cao Lan, Left as other ethnic groups.

The distribution of ethnic communities in the province have the following characteristics:

+ Red River Valley region accounted for 41% of the population of the province, of which 43% of the Kinh, Tay 33%, 10% of the Dao, Hmong 1.3% compared to the population of the region.

+ Flowing River Valley region accounted for 28% of the population of the province. Of which the Kinh account for 43%, accounting for 11% of the Tay, Dao 13%, 7% Nung ... compared with the population of the region.

+ The three western districts (Tram Tau and Mu Cang Chai, Van Chan) accounted for 31% of the population that tinh.Trong: Kinh is 33%, Thai 19.2%, 11.8% Tay, Hmong 24, 1%, Muong 5.2% and 5.1% from the Dao region population.

And ethnic communities in the province with its own identity and traditions formed a very diverse culture and rich, with many unique features, a deep humanism and traditional practices in the labor produced many national identities.

Source: en.vietnam.travel.vn/