Hidden Ha Tinh billionaire

Vietnam's low profile richest man,Pham Nhat Vuong was born in the central province of Ha Tinh in 1968. Vuong studied geological economic engineering at Moscow Geology University in Russia.

After school in 1993, he moved to Kharkov, Ukraine, where he created LLC Technocom, a producer of more than 100 dehydrated food products, including instant noodles and mashed potatoes.

The business was later sold to Nestle SA at an undisclosed price. In 2001,he returned to Vietnam to set up Vincom and Vinpearl. Today at the age of 44,he's the President and chairman of Vingroup Joint-Stock Company(stock quote:VIC.vn)as well as Vinpearl Joint Stock Company(stock quote:VPL.vn)with total asset value in the domestic stock market over VND21.044trillion(over USD1 billion). In September, 2009, the main headquarters of Technocom Group were moved to Hanoi and the name changed into Vingroup.

 Vuong’s wife, Pham Thu Huong, has become the fourth richest investor, with VND3.227 trillion (USD154.4 million). She was ranked as 6th in the list of top-ten richest investors, with VND2.262 trillion (USD108.2 million), as of December 29, 2010.

Wedged between Quang Binh province to the south and Nghe An province to the north, Ha Tinh's best known feature is a road leading out of the province -- to Laos.

It's through this province that snaking Route 8 leads to the Nam Phao / Cau Treo border crossing between Vietnam and Laos.

On the Lao side, the road links up with Lak Xao, continuing on eventually to the Mekong River, while on the Vietnamese side, Route 8 strikes west till it intersects with Highway 1 near Hong Linh and not all that far from Vinh -- the capital of Nghe An province to the north.

Ha Tinh is off the beaten path, but here you can see the “real Vietnam”, whatever that is.

The main town is Hong Linh with sub-Districts: Huong Son, Duc Tho, Nghi Xuan, Can Loc, Huong Khe, Thach Ha, Cam Xuyen, Ky Anh, Vu Quang, Loc Ha.

 Ethnic groups here includes Viet (Kinh), Thai, Muong, Chut.

 Locating at the east of Truong Son Mountain Range, Ha Tinh's terrain is both narrow and sloping, tilting towards the east. To the west is a high mountain range (with average height of 1,500m), following with a range of hills, small and narrow elongated plain and coastal sandy banks.

Mountainous terrain accounts for 80% of the province's natural area that is sharply differentiated and divided, forming deferent ecological areas.

There are 14 rivers such as Ngan Pho, Ngan Sau, Cay. The coastline is 137km. Ha Tinh belongs to the tropical monsoon area. The annual average temperature is 23.7ºC.

There are two clear seasons:Raining season lasts from August to November. Annually average rainfall is from 2500mm to 2650mm, account to 54% of whole year.Dry season is from December to July next year. The weather is dry, hot and highly vaporizing West- Southern wind (blowing from Laos).

 The province has many special internal tourism places ecologically, historically, culturally, namely
National Park of Vu Quang, Ke Go reservoir, Hong Linh Mountain. Dong Loc Road Junction - a monument sticking with glorious victory of Vietnam against the US.

Then, tourists are able to relax in Xuan Thanh, Thien Cam, Thach Hai or Deo Con beaches, or in medical treatment area of Son Kim Hot Spring. Ha Tinh preserves many temples, pagodas such as Cua Dieu Tower, Huong Tich, Bich Chau, Yen Lac pagodas, Tam Lang, Chieu Trung temples. Coming there, visitor do not forget make tour to some of handicrafts villages such as Van Cham, Minh Long iron, Duc Lam cooper, Cam Trang pottery, Thai Yen wood, Ha silt, Ho cloth.

Ha Tinh City is 341km from Hanoi.


ACCOMODATIONS:

1) Thai Hotel a three star hotel located in the center of Hong Linh Town, near the Song Lam River. Add: Block 10, Bac Hong Precinct, Hong Linh Town, Ha Tinh province, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 570788 ; Fax: (84-39) 836716

2) Song La Hotel at Thien Cam beach. Add: Thien Cam Beach, Ha Tinh province, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 862666 ; Fax: (84-39) 862581

3) Binh Minh Hotel Add: 1 Tran Phu road, Ha Tinh town, Ha Tinh province, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 856825 ; Fax: (84-39) 857875

4) Huong Sen Hotel Add: 2 Nguyen Tat Thanh road, Ha Tinh town, Ha Tinh province, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 855589 ; Fax: (84-39) 857875

5) Lam Kieu Hotel Gia Lach- Nghi Xuan, Ha Tinh town, Ha Tinh province, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 821461 ; Fax: (84-39) 821225

6) Cong Doan Guesthouse Thien Cam Townlet, Cam Xuyen Dist., Ha Tinh, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 862 226

7) Hoanh Son Guesthouse Pho Chau Townlet, Huong Son Dist., Ha Tinh Tel: (84-39) 875 253

8) Hoanh Son Hotel Ky Nam Commune, Ky Anh Dist., Ha Tinh, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 869 009 ; Fax: (84-39) 857 875

9) Huong Thuy Hotel Ha Huy Tap St., Ha Tinh Town, Ha Tinh, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 885 412

10) Kieu Hoa Hotel Add: Tran Phu St., Ha Tinh Town, Ha Tinh, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 857 025

11) Lam Hong Hotel Bac Hong Ward, Hong Linh Town, Ha Tinh, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 835 357

12) Tan Giang Hotel 33 Nguyen Cong Tru St., Ha Tinh Town, Ha Tinh, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 855 583

13) Thanh Sen Hotel 1 Nguyen Cong Tru St., Ha Tinh Town, Ha Tinh Tel: (84-39) 856 002 ; Fax:(84-39) 855 484

14) Thien Y Hotel Thien Cam Townlet, Cam Xuyen Dist., Ha Tinh, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 862 345 ; Fax:(84-39) 862 397

15)Cao Phu Guesthouse Tran Phu St., Ha Tinh Town, Ha Tinh, Vietnam Tel: (84-39) 856 712

16) Sinh Thai Hotel No 2 - Xuan An - Nghi Xuan - Ha Tinh Tel: (84-39) 3822208 Fax: (84-39) 3822373 MAP:Thành phố Hà Tĩnh