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Rạch Giá

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Rạch Giá is a significant location in the Kiên Giang province of Vietnam. It sits on the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand. This city is situated southwest of the large city of Ho Chi Minh City. To its east, the city borders the towns of Tân Hiệp and Châu Thành. To the north, it shares borders with Hòn Đất and Tân Hiệp. The south of the city is bordered by Châu Thành and An Biên town. The Gulf of Thailand lies to the west. This body of water actually surrounds some parts of the city itself.

Trung tâm thương mại Rạch Giá
Trung tâm thương mại Rạch Giá

The city has undergone major changes in its administrative status. On July 26, 2005, the government issued Decree No. 97/2005/NĐ-CP. This decree upgraded Rạch Giá from a town to a city. However, the city's status changed again on July 1, 2025. On this date, Rạch Giá ceased to exist as a municipal city. This happened because Vietnam eliminated its district-level units. Before this change, the city contained 12 administrative units. These units included various wards and one commune. The wards were Vĩnh Thanh Vân, Vĩnh Thanh, Vĩnh Lạc, Vĩnh Lợi, Vĩnh Quang, An Hòa, An Bình, Rạch Sỏi, Vĩnh Thông, Vĩnh Hiệp, and Phi Thông.

One of the most important features of Rạch Giá is its unique expansion. It was the first city where the Vietnamese government applied a "lấn biển" project. This term refers to a project used to build out into the ocean. The goal of this project was to expand the available territory. This method helped Rạch Giá become one of the largest new cities in southwest Vietnam. The "lấn biển" project was so successful that it added two new wards to the city. There are also plans for more growth in the future. Once the Lạc Hồng Bridge is finished, new projects will begin. These include the Rach Vuot industrial center and the Vĩnh Hiệp urban city. These developments are expected to expand the city further to the east.

The climate in Rạch Giá follows a tropical savanna pattern, known as Köppen Aw. This type of climate is characterized by specific seasonal changes. The city experiences a very pronounced dry season from December to March. During these months, there is much less rain. However, the remaining eight months of the year see consistently heavy rainfall. While it is a savanna climate, it is wetter than most other climates of this type. This weather pattern affects how people live and how the land is used.

History and culture are deeply woven into the identity of Rạch Giá. The city contains many national historical sites. Visitors can find the Nguyễn Trung Trực Temple and the Tam Bảo Temple. Other important sites include the Vĩnh Hoà temple and the Huỳnh Mẫn Đạt grave. Religious sites like the Phật Lớn pagoda and the Láng Cát pagoda are also present. The Kiên Giang museum is another place of historical interest. Other sites include the Quan Đế pagoda and the Sắc Tứ Tam Bảo Temple. The Tam quan gate is a very important landmark. It serves as the historical main gate and is a symbol of the city.

Transportation in the region is well-developed to connect people to other areas. There are two main stations for land travel. Rạch Sỏi station serves main routes on highways 61 and 63 to neighboring towns. Rạch Giá station provides routes to Ho Chi Minh City and Hà Tiên. The bus system is also quite old and established. Passengers can take buses to Châu Thành, Giồng Riềng, Tân Hiệp, and Hòn Đất. For air travel, Rạch Giá Airport is the largest airport in the area. Vietnam Airlines operates flight routes from this airport to Ho Chi Minh City.

Because of its location near the Gulf of Thailand, water travel is vital. There are two major ship stations in the area. The Rạch Giá ship station, also called the Phú Quốc ship station, connects to several islands. These include Phú Quốc, Hon Tre, Hòn Sơn, and Thổ Chu. There is also the Rạch Mẽo station, which provides routes to rural towns on the Cà Mau Peninsula. For travelers going to Phú Quốc or the Kiên Hải islands, high-speed ships are a common economic choice. These connections make the region a central hub for both land and sea travel.

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File:Trung tâm thương mại Rạch Giá.jpg
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