Binh Duong Province

Binh Duong (in Vietnamese, Bình Dương) is a Province of Vietnam. It is located in the south of the country, immediately to the north of Ho Chi Minh City.

Binh Duong province is situated on relatively level terrain, and is crossed by the Saigon, Dong Nai, and Be rivers. The area is considered to be good cropland, and agriculture is an important industry in the province. Binh Duong is also home to a significant manufacturing industry, and in the first half of 2004, the province had the second highest levels of foreign investment in Vietnam.

Politically, Binh Duong is divided into six districts: Ben Cat, Dau Tieng, Di An, Phu Giao, Tan Uyen, and Thuan An. The provincial capital, Thu Dao Mot, is a separate municipality.

Originally, the area now known as Binh Duong was heavily forested, and was dominated by peoples of the Xtieng, Cho Ro, Mnong, and Khmer ethnic groups. In the 17th century, however, ethnic Vietnamese settlers arrived in the region from the east. Most were peasants, seeking to escape poverty by gaining land of their own. There were also a number of refugees from a war between two feudal houses. In 1698, there were enough people in the area that a prominent Vietnamese general was sent to establish official institutions and enforce law. From that point, Binh Duong developed rapidly, with extensive clearance of forests to make room for crops. The province is now dominated by ethnic Vietnamese.

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