Rach Gia - A Beautiful City on the Western Coast

Three centuries ago, Rach Gia, or as it known by its ancient name ‘Gia Khe’ was founded when the Vietnamese people reclaimed what was then waste land. The city became a heroic place due to the immortal feats of hero Nguyen Trung Truc who led an insurrection against the French aggression. The heroic city made a significant contribution to the Great Spring Victory in 1975 when the South was liberated. In the final years of the 20^th century, Rach Gia carried out a ‘century’ project on encroaching into the sea to build a new city, which it is hoped will become one of the major economic centres in the Mekong delta.

 

The work stretches from the Kinh Nhanh river to the An Hoa sea gate with a total length of 7.4 kilometres with 500 metres of land encroaching to the sea. The project started on January 20, 1999 and created a land fund of 420 hectares for a new urban area with 20,000 houses. The area consists of parks, squares, multi-storey hotels and administrative blocks. Total investment capital for the project was put at over VND 500 billion. After five years’ construction, the area has 30 streets and roads, with tall buildings, hotels and restaurants. In late April, the first supermarket of the new urban area was put into operation to the meet the demand of local people and visitors. With such a magnificent project, the city has become an attractive tourist site.

 

Rach Gia’s economy has seen a rapid development over the past five years. Its average GDP growth rate has reached 11.75 per cent per year. In its economic structure in 2005, trade and services contribute 52 per cent; construction and industry, 27 per cent; and agriculture and fisheries, 20.29 per cent. Trade activities have become busier with the trade centres of Rach Gia, Rach Soi, the Cho Lon electronic supermarket, Citimart, and the markets of Vinh Thanh, Tac Rang, and Phi Thong, which have recently been built. In the city’s downtown, many trade streets have been formed with various commodities. The services of banking, finance, insurance, telecommunication and transportation have developed rapidly, meeting the demand of the local people for their daily life and business. At the same time, tourism services have seen a high growth rate with annual revenues increasing by 30 per cent. The development of high-speed ships and flight routes has contributed to the development of the city’s tourism services. As a result, the city has become one of the major angles of the Rach Gia-Ha Tien-Phu Quoc triangle.

 

Also, over the past five years, the city has attracted over 60 projects, concentrating on construction material production, farm-produce and seafood processing, with a total investment capital of over VND 860 billion. With a flood spillway system to the western sea, the city now has tens of hectares more land for agricultural production. Thanks to the city’s efforts to promote investment in its fishing fleet and fishing support services, its fisheries sector has seen a high growth rate.

 

On July 26, 2005, Rach Gia was officially recognised as a city. This is an important landmark of the city’s development, helping it reach a new height. Rach Gia is now making further efforts to promote its development as a civilised city. Accordingly, the city will promote its administrative reform, creating strong progress in the building of an effective administrative management.

 

Furthermore, the city will concentrate on developing its infrastructure facilities, promoting its economic restructuring with trade, tourism and services contributing most to its economy, which are followed by industry and handicraft, fisheries and agriculture. The city will also focus on exploiting its potential within the Phu Quoc-Ha Tien-Rach Gia economic triangle. In the 2006-2010 period, Rach Gia will strive for an economic growth rate of at least 13 per cent, and per capita GDP of around US$700 per year in 2006 and around US$1,100 per year in 2010.