Map - Thanh Hoa province (Tỉnh Thanh Hóa)

Thanh Hóa is a province in the North Central Coast region of Vietnam. This is a relatively large province, which ranks as fifth in area and as third in population among 63 central administrative subdivisions. Its capital and largest city is Thanh Hóa City. The province is widely called Xứ Thanh (The Land of Thanh).

Human civilization has existed in Thanh Hóa for about 6,000 years ago, as one of the earliest centers of the ancient Vietnamese. Archaeological excavations have revealed that the first culture presented was the Đa Bút Culture, a culture located along the Sông Đáy river and the Sông Mã river.

Thanh Hóa is located in the middle of North Vietnam and North Central Coast as a transition in many aspects: geology, climate, administrative division and local culture. Thus, these factors show that Xứ Thanh is a province with many particular local habits and customs and cultures. Thanh Hóa has two provincial cities, one district-level town and 24 rural districts with an area of 11,133.4 km2 and a population of approximate 3.6 million. Sầm Sơn city is a famous seaside resort situated 16 km from the Thanh Hóa city centre. Whilst, Bỉm Sơn township is a large industrial centre, especially cement. Nghi Sơn is a promising Economic zone, expected to be central of Thanh Hoa's Industrial with large Refinery Factory, Deepwater Seaport and many projects in progress. The province is also home of many ethnic groups, in which the most seven ethnicities are Kinh, Mường, Thái, H'Mông, Dao, Thổ, Khơ-mú with mentions of the legend Long Quân. ("Dragon Lord of Lac")