Nam Định
Nam Định is a ward of Ninh Bình province in the Red River Delta of the Northern Vietnam. It was the capital city of former Nam Định province before July 1, 2025.
History
From August 18–20 of each year, there is a festival held in Nam Định called the Cố Trạch. This celebration honors General Trần Hưng Đạo, a 13th-century national hero who led Annamese forces to victory over the invading Mongols.Middle Ages
Before the Trần dynasty, the land of modern Namdinh City of a northern area of an area was called as Hiển-khánh district, which corresponds to half of the modern area of Nam Định province. This was the intersection of three large rivers, so it was very convenient for trade.The name of the city, under Trần dynasty, was Thiên Trường meant "where the Sky remains for Eternity". It is first mentioned to mark the birth of the city in 1262 by Emperor Trần Thái Tông. The name Thiên Trường was probably the name for a whole phủ, which at the time would be equivalent to a special prefecture or province nowadays. Under the Trần dynasty the city was considered to be the second capital, besides Thăng Long.
Under Lê dynasty, the city belonged to the Prefecture of Sơn Nam, meant "Southern Mountains" or "to the South of the Mountains" in 1466 by Emperor Lê Thánh Tông, and Sơn Nam Hạ, meant "The South Prefecture of the Southern Mountains" in compared to Sơn Nam Thượng, meant "The North Prefecture of the Southern Mountains".
The 20th century
The modern name of the city, Nam Định, literally means "The pacified South", was first mentioned in 1831 under the reign of Emperor Minh Mệnh of the Nguyễn dynasty as the capital of Nam Định Province. In international context, the name of this urban area is often signed as Namdinh City or la ville de Namdinh.The 21st century
According to a resolution announced by 2021 and officially applied by 2023, the entire Mỹ Lộc rural district area was merged into Nam Định City.Culture
Namdinh City's long-standing customs come from the intersection of three groups of people : Kinh, Hoa and French.Landscapes
Namdinh City's oldest space is often divided by tourism researchers into two parts : The North is the settlement surrounding Vị Xuyên Lake and Dragon Market, which is called Namdinh Old Town ; the South is a textile industry planned by the French from the 1880s, which is now called Hòa-vượng New Urban Complex.- Trần Temple, a historical temple worshipping Emperors, Generals of Trần dynasty. It traces the 13th history of Annam with three Mongol invasions.
- Phổ Minh Pagoda, a Buddhist pagoda built under Ly Dynasty in 11th century. This temple still well preserved its original architecture from 11th and 12th century AD.
- Grand Church of Nam Định, a Christian church built in 19th century under French Indochina colonial period.
- Church of Khoái Đồng, a Romanesque Christian Church built in 1941 by the Spanish Santo Domingo Order.
Cuisine
Namdinh City is often considered as the birthplace of pho by the majority. However, this dish is considered the best what only exists in Nguyễn Du, Hàng Sắt and Hàng Thao Streets. All of them are close to the 3–2 Square. Pho has some esoteric formulas stored by the descendants of the Teochew families. The noodles of Namdinh's pho are thought to always be as thin as clouds and they even can dissolve at the tip of the tongue, while the broth must smell the cow's bone and onion.Namdinh is also known as the only place in Vietnam that can produce Polka Bread since 1969 until present. This is a type of boat-shaped bread but has a very thick intestine. It is baked in a special type of polish oven, which has been provided with an exclusive patent globally secret.
Fish sauce in Namdinh City is also different from many localities in Vietnam. It is usually mixed with boiled water from the cow's bone. This method will make the fish sauce lose the smell and become fragrant like peppermint. Besides, there are shrimp sauce, which is used to wake the taste of boiled vegetables.
Some other specialties of Namdinh City : Bánh cuốn, bánh mì pa-tê, bánh gối, toast with honey, fish bún, bún đũa, xôi, bánh bèo, Seochew sweet...
Sports
Nam Định has two sports facilities, Thiên Trường Stadium (formerly Cuối Stadium) and Trần Quốc Toản Indoor Stadium, which are host to football and volleyball matches. Both sports centers are located on Hùng Vương Street.In 2024 the Nam Dinh F C won the V.League 1 championship for the first time in 39 years.
Notable people
;Middle Ages- Trần Quốc Tuấn, Trần dynasty royal prince, statesman and military commander.
- Trần Thái Tông, first Emperor of Trần dynasty, the second Grand Emperor of Trần dynasty.
- Nguyễn Hiền, Vietnamese youngest trạng nguyên, achieved the highest score on highest level of the Imperial examination when he was only 13 years old, scholar, writer, politician.
- Lương Thế Vinh, prominent Vietnamese mathematician, scholar, politician.
- Đào Sư Tích, Vietnamese scholar, writer, politician.
- Khiếu Năng Tĩnh, Vietnamese scholar, writer, educator.
- Trần Bích San, Vietnamese scholar, politician.
- Trần Tế Xương, or under pen name of Tú Xương, a Vietnamese famous writer, poet.
- Trường Chinh, Vietnamese communist political leader, revolutionary and theoretician.
- Lê Đức Thọ, Vietnamese revolutionary general, diplomat, and politician. The first Asian to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1973, but refused the award.
- Nguyễn Cơ Thạch, Vietnamese revolutionary, diplomat, and politician, one of the peace-maker of Paris Peace Accords.
- Phạm Văn Thuần, Vietnamese footballer.
- Nguyễn Văn Dũng, Vietnamese footballer and coach.
- Nguyễn Văn Sỹ, Vietnamese footballer and coach.
- Chu Ngọc Anh, Vietnamese footballer.
- Rafaelson or Nguyễn Xuân Son, Vietnamese-Brasilian footballer.
International relations
Sister towns and sister citiesGeography
Topography
Starting from 00:00 on January 1, 2025, the area of Nam Định city was automatically divided into 21 commune-level administrative units by the Resolution of the City People's Committee.- 14 wards : Cửa Bắc, Cửa Nam, Hưng Lộc, Lộc Hạ, Lộc Hòa, Lộc Vượng, Mỹ Xá, Nam Phong, Nam Vân, Năng Tĩnh, Quang Trung, Trần Hưng Đạo, Trường Thi, Vị Xuyên.
- 7 communes : Mỹ Hà, Mỹ Lộc, Mỹ Phúc, Mỹ Tân, Mỹ Thắng, Mỹ Thuận, Mỹ Trung.
Nam Định is 90 km Southeast of Vietnam's capital, Hanoi. It is also known as the center of the Southern of the Red River Delta. Not only by its importance of politics and economy, but for the traffic.
- Provincial Internal Bus Route.
- Provincial Route 490.
- National Route 10.
- National Route 21A.
- National Route 21B.
- National Route 37.
- National Route 38B and Hồ Chí Minh Highway.
- North–South Railway.
Demography
According to the census in January 2023, the population of Nam Định city was about 364,181.Due to the history of its formation very early, the area of Nam Định city has many ethnic groups settling together. Kinh people account for the majority, but besides that, there is Hoa communities settled in the Old Quarters for many generations. Although they have been registered as Hoa or Kinh since 1978, in the composition of many groups such as : Tanka, Hakka, Seochew, Teochew, Canton, Hokkien...
There is also a small community of Tày and Nùng who has been refugees due to the influence of the border conflict. Also since the 2000s, there were a number of other groups from the international community, who were naturalized after only a short time living here.
By preliminary statistics, at least 10% of Nam Định citizens are Catholic. Nam Định city was also one of the earliest Annamese location to receive the Gospel, which was about the beginning of the XIX century, by the Paris Missionary Association. The territory of old Nam Định city and former Mỹ Lộc rural district has previously belonged to two different dioceses, which were Hà Nội and Nam Định. However, since Christmas in 2024, expanded Nam Định city has become part of the Hanoi Diocese, belonging to the Hanoi Archdiocese. Their patron saint is Our Lady of Immacilization.