2. Natural condition
Location and climate
- Van Lam district is located in the Red River delta has a fairly flat terrain, steady soil and average slope, from 0.001% to 0.008%. The main slope is from north to south.
- The district has a tropical monsoon climate, with 4 distinct seasons. Annual average rainfall is about 1,176mm and the average humidity is 80%. The hydrographical conditions of the district are favorable for agriculture, intensive cultivation and the change in the structure of plants and animals.
Hydrological
- Van Lam district has high capacity of underground water with good quality, which can be exploited up to 100.000m3 per day and night. The water contains 43 substances and provides 10 million liters per year.
3. History and development
Throughout history, people here have constantly strived to create cultural values making a glorious history of this land. Today, following that heroic tradition, the Party, authority and people of Van Lam district are trying to build a rich and beautiful country.
Prior to 1890, Van Lam was not named in administrative unit system. In Hung King dynasty, Van Lam belonged to Duong Tuyen district. In Tran dynasty, Van Lam was under Kien Giang district, Kien Xuong province. In Le dynasty, Van Lam was under Thuan An district of Kinh Bac province.
In the French colonial period, on October 25, 1890, List of Governors - General of French Indochina issued a decree establishing Bai Say, consisting of four districts: Yen My, My Hao, Cam Luong and Van Lam. After many merger and adjustments of administrative boundaries, on July 22, 1999, the Government issued Decree No. 60 / ND-CP re-establishing Van Lam district, consisting of 11 administrative units (10 communes and 1 town) with a total of 86 villages. On September 1, 1999, Van Lam was officially re-established.
Van Lam is a land of long-standing cultural tradition, formed in the process of country building and defense, carrying the imprint of rice civilization. The formation of villages and communes in the district are associated with the angels, spirits which are symbols of gratitude to whom fought against invaders andd create a warm life for local people (Nguyen phi y Y Lan, Sam God)
Patriotic tradition in the fight against foreign invaders is a character of land and people here. In the resistance war against the leash of Northern feudal dynasty, the land of Van Lam marked the glorious victory. This tradition was inherited and promoted by the later generations when the French colonialists invaded our country. Van Lam became the active area of Bai Say insurgent army; many Van Lam's adolescents joined the force and made various victories, such as: Ngo Quang Huy (Trung Trac commune) Tuan Khuc (Nghia Trai). Amid the development of the revolutionary movement, on January 5, 1938, the first Party organization of Bac Hung Yen and Nam Bac Ninh was formed. Van Lam's first party cell (joined cell): Van-Gia-Thuan was established in Tan Nhue village (Lac Dao) with 5 party members. Since then, Van Lam became the spotlight of the operation of the Communist Party of North Vietnam and home of many key cadres of the Party such as comrade Truong Chinh, Hoang Van Thu, Hoang Quoc Viet.
During the war against the French colonialists, Van Lam were immediately remembered as the “indomitable road 5, tough railways", which was the fear of the enemy and the pride of the people here. In the resistance war against American imperialism, tens of thousands of Van Lam youths enthusiastically go with the call of the country. 1,587 Van Lam's outstanding youngsters have fallen on the battlefields for national liberation. 02 comrades were conferred the title of "Hero of the People's Armed Forces", 67 Heroic Mothers of Vietnam, 6 out of 11 communes and towns were awarded Heroes of the Resistance War. Up to now, through 21 terms of congress, the Party Committee has grown steadily with 35 Party organizations and 3,964 Party members in 178 Party cells.
4. Administrative units
There are 11 administrative units, including 10 communes and 1 town with the total area of 74.42 km2:
1. The administrative area of Nhu Quynh town is 7.07 km2
2. The administrative area of Lac Dao commune is 8.58 km2
3. The administrative area of Chi Dao commune is 5.97 km2
4. The administrative area of Dai Dong commune is 8.03 km2
5. The administrative area of Viet Hung commune is 7.55 km2
6. The administrative area of Tan Quang commune is 6.02 km2
7. The administrative area of Dinh Du commune is 4.48 km2
8. The administrative area of Minh Hai commune is 7.73 km2
9. The administrative area of Minh Hai commune is 8.89 km2
10. The administrative area of Trung Trac commune is 4.90 km2
11. The administrative area of Lac Hong commune is 5.20 km2
5. Society and economy
Taking advantage of the geographic location, Van Lam has emerged as one of the most dynamic economic areas of Hung Yen province. The economic structure of the district is changing positively in the direction of gradual increase in the proportion of industry and small crafts and trade and services and gradual reduce in the proportion of agriculture. Over the years, thanks to intensive policies, Van Lam has really become the trusted location of domestic and foreign investors.
Adjacent to the two regions with dynamic economic development is the capital Hanoi and the port city of Hai Phong, Van Lam has a great advantage in socio-economic development. But how to turn potentials and advantages into the driving force for economic growth is always the concern of leaders of District Party Committee, People's Council and District People's Committee. By introducing right policies and thanks to enthusiasm of people, Van Lam is changing its appearance, contributing into the acceleration of the country.
Agricultural restructuring: Given the growth rate of the industry is quite high, the real income of local people comes mainly from agricultural production. Therefore, the district Party Committee and the People's Committee of Van Lam district set up the agricultural development strategy in the direction of accelerating the agricultural economy restructuring and building a clean and advanced agriculture.
The district is building up specialized farming areas using special rice varieties, special fruit trees and food crops with high economic value, developing breeding towards industrialization orientation. Cultivation is attached with processing industry to create a radical change in agricultural production.
As a result, the agricultural sector has developed in the direction of commodity production in which the structure of agricultural economy has been shifted towards the reduction of the rate of husbandry and aquaculture and the rate of cultivation. In 2014, the proportion of cultivation, husbandry and services are 43.96%, 54.84%, 1.2% respectively.
The breakthrough of the industry: Van Lam is adjacent to Hanoi and the railway along the highway 5, which is a great premise for Van Lam to promote industrial production and trade, while creating more jobs. The industry-construction sector will grow at an annual rate of 18% per year between 2009 and 2014. Smokeless industry is strongly developed such as textiles manufacturing and electronics.
Along with boosting investment attraction, Van Lam also focuses on developing handicrafts, creating more jobs for agricultural workers and gradually changing the awareness of local people on commodity production. First of all, the district facilitates the restoration of traditional craft villages and the establishment of new craft villages; accordingly, step by step expands the production scale. At present, Van Lam district has 18 handicraft villages, of which 6 are recognized at provincial level.
Positive results in the development of industry and handicraft have confirmed the direction that Van Lam has chosen is right, but challenges remain ahead. In the coming years, Van Lam will face a number of issues as developing industrial zones such as environmental pollution, local interests as the area of cultivation land shrinks and benefits of the households who have not changed production. The situation requires functional levels and agencies to promote the development process smoothly and sustainably.
Investing in infrastructure, the basis of fast and sustainable development: The task of building rural infrastructure was determined as an important step by the Party Committee of the District and Van Lam People's Committee in order to boost the industrialization and modernization, develop the strategy of socio-economic development and attract investment capital. Initially, the district has basically completed the office of the Party Committee of the District, the People's Committee of the district, other departments, transport systems, irrigation system, schools and medical centers.
In the field of education and training, education levels have a positive change in both size and quality of training. Over the past years, the district education and training sector has carried out important tasks such as fostering professional knowledge for teachers in the sector, meeting the requirements of reforming and upgrading material facilities.
- Trade and services of the district have an average growth rate of 12.54% per year in the period 2009 - 2014. In 2014, the total production value reached about VND 5.469 billion. Types of service value are developed towards diversification and expanded to villages and districts. Some fine art products have approached Hanoi market and exported market.
Thanks to effective results after applying the right development policy, Van Lam's economy is gradually changing. In 2014, the total production value of the district reached VND48, 218 billion (actual price). Total budget revenue in the district reached VND 820.510 billion. The average economic growth rate in the period of 2009 - 2014 was approximately 16.5% per year. The economy shift in the period of 2009 – 2014 is to increase the proportion of industry, trade in services and reduce the proportion of agriculture. In 2014, the economic structure will be industry and construction accounting for 82.33%, trade and service accounts for 11.71% while agriculture accounts for 5.96%.
6. History, cultural heritage:
- Van Lam is a land of long-standing cultural tradition, accumulated from the process of building and defense of the country, bearing the imprint of rice civilization. The formation of villages in the district is associated with gods and a symbol of respect for those who have made great deeds in the battle against foreign invaders to bring a peaceful life to local people. At present, there are 16 historical relics in the district which have been recognized as national monuments. Typical examples are the temple of the Empress Dowager Y Lan (in Nhu Quynh town), Thai Lac pagoda (Lac Hong commune), Nom pagoda, Dai Dong communal house (in Dai Dong commune).
- Van Lam is also home of many famous scientists and military personnel such as General Ngo Quang Huy (in Trung Trac Commune), General Tuan Khau (Nghia Trai). Van Lam was the place to hide many high-ranking Party cadres in the resistance war against France such as Truong Chinh, Hoang Van Thu, and Hoang Quoc Viet