Lang Son

Area: 8,320.8 sq. km.
Population: 744.1 thousand habitants (2012).
Capital: Lang Son City.
Districts: Trang Dinh, Van Lang, Van Quan, Binh Gia, Bac Son, Huu Lung, Chi Lang, Cao Loc, Loc Binh, Dinh Lap.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Tay, Nung, Dao...

Geography
Lang Son is a frontier mountainous province in the North-East of Vietnam. It shares border with Cao Bang Province on the south, Bac Giang Province on the north, Guangxi (China) on the east, Quang Ninh Province on the north-east and Bac Kan, Thai Nguyen provinces on the west.

Mountains and hills cover over 80% of the province's total area. The complex network of rivers makes a good condition for agriculture. Main rivers that run through the province are: Ky Cung, Ba Thin, Bac Giang, Bac Khe, Thuong, Hoa, and Trung rivers.

Lang Son has two international border gates including Dong Dang railway border gate and Huu Nghi road border gate, two national border gates such as Chi Ma (in Loc Binh District) and Binh Nghi (in Trang Dinh District)... So Lang Son has an important strategic position in the North-East of Vietnam.

The climate is cool and temperate. Annual average temperature is 21.5⁰C. Annual average rainfall is from 1200mm to 1600mm.

Tourism and Economy
Lang Son has potentiality of mineral, forestry, tourism and trading. Star aniseed (hoa hoi) is a specialty. The province is proud of many culture and historical vestiges. They are Rampart of Mac Dynasty, Doan Citadel Vestige, Chi Lang Defile, Ky Cung and Bac Le temples. Apart of these, Ky Lua Market, To Thi and Mau Son mountains, Tam Thanh, and Nhi Thanh grottoes also attract many visitors every year. Especially, lots of people come to Ky Lua and Tam Thanh markets to shopping because the goods are abundant and cheap.

Coming to there, tourists are interesting in Ky Lua or Long Tong traditional festivals. They would like to taste special dishes: roast duck, roast pig, Mau Son wine and lam rice.

Transportation
Lang Son is 154km from Hanoi, 60km from Thai Nguyen, 48km from Quang Ninh, 55km from Cao Bang, 73km from Bac Kan.

Road: National highway routes on the territory of Lang Son province:
- No.1A: It departs from Huu Nghi Quan (Friendship Gate) and runs through Lang Son Province to Hanoi.
- No.1B: between Lang Son and Thai Nguyen.
- No.4A: between Lang Son and Cao Bang.
- No.4B: from Lang Son to Tien Yen Townlet of Quang Ninh Province.
- No.31: between Dinh Lap and Bac Giang
- No.279: Binh Gia of Lang Son Province to Bac Kan.

Train: Hanoi-China international railway line with over 100km runs through Lang Son.