Quảng Nam () was formerly a coastal province near northernmost part of the South Central Coast region, the Central of Vietnam. It borders Huế to the north, Đà Nẵng to the northeast, Kon Tum to the southwest, Quảng Ngãi to the southeast, Sekong of Laos to the west and the South China Sea to the east. Quảng Nam is located in the key economic region of Central Vietnam. In 1997, the province was re-established by separating Quảng Nam - Da Nang province (also known as Quảng Đà province) into two administrative units: Quảng Nam province and Da Nang city. Currently, the province counts two cities: Tam Kỳ (the provincial capital) and Hội An. Quảng Nam is the province with the most world cultural heritage sites in Vietnam, with two world cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO: Hội An ancient town and Mỹ Sơn sanctuary. In addition, the province is the birthplace of several people with important contributions to Vietnam. This is also the only province in the South Central Coast region that borders both the South China Sea and Laos, and has an international border gate.
On 12 June 2025, Quảng Nam was incorporated into Da Nang city.
Name Through the ups and downs of the Vietnamese people, the name Quang Nam has changed many times: from Dao Thua tuyen Quang Nam to Quang Nam land, Quang Nam town, Quang Nam palace in ancient times, then Quang Da special zone during the war against the US, Quang Nam - Da Nang province (Quang Da province) after the country's unification and returned to the old name Quang Nam province when the province was re-established in 1997 on the basis of separating Quang Nam - Da Nang province (also known as Quang Da province) into 2 administrative units: Quang Nam province and Da Nang city. In 1471, with the event of King Le Thanh Tong establishing Thua tuyen Quang Nam. King Le Thanh Tong affirmed the territorial sovereignty of Dai Viet over this land. King Le Thanh Tong made a choice, an orientation of great historical significance in the long-term development process of the Vietnamese people and strategic significance in terms of vision, development trend, which had a decisive meaning for the destiny of Dai Viet nation at that time. Therefore, it is not by chance that this famously learned king chose two meaningful words to name the new land: "Quang" means to expand, "Nam" means to the South, so the name "Quang Nam" means "expanding to the South".
History
Human habitation in the province has been continuous for 2,200 years, starting with the Sa Huỳnh culture.
Quảng Nam was once the political and near the geographic centre of Champa and the province was gifted in 1307 in exchange for a marriage to a Vietnamese or Dai Viet princess. For some time both the most powerful city-state and the busiest Cham port (at Hội An) were located in what is now Quảng Nam. Trade in luxury goods from the Central Highlands was the basis of this wealth and power.Hardy, Andrew (2009): "Eaglewood and the Economic History of Champa and Central Vietnam". in Hardy, Andrew et al. (ed): Champa and the Archaeology of Mỹ Sơn (Vietnam). NUS Press, Singapore As a result of warfare with Vietnam, the centre of political power of the Cham shifted south to Vijaya. The trade in luxuries continued for some time under the Nguyễn lords but declined gradually, especially under the Nguyễn dynasty and further in colonial Vietnam, when the economic focus shifted to the agriculture of the large river deltas.
As the site contained several mountain passes, it has historically been a center for conflict between ruling powers and dynastic struggles. The site was the scene of heavy inter-dynastic fighting between the Trịnh–Nguyễn War and the point in which the Nguyen dynasty had escaped following their expulsion from their strongholds in the north. Its primary city of Hội An was destroyed and rebuilt during the Tay Son rebellion.
The province of Quang Nam has historically served as a trade site and was a major port region in Southeast Asia for trading high-grade silk, fabrics, paper, porcelain, areca nuts, pepper, Chinese medicines, elephant tusks, beeswax, mother-of-pearl and lacquer. The Dutch brought Vietnamese slaves they captured from Nguyễn lord territories in Quảng Nam province to their colony in Taiwan.
As a trade hub, Quang Nam would also serve as the site where Western influence would enter into Vietnam. Notably Alexandre de Rhodes who had written the alphabet, and also where a military alliance with France was signed between Nguyen dynasty monarchs fleeing the Tay Son Rebellion. The region would also see the start of French colonization during Cochinchina campaign and the Siege of Tourane.
The province was split into two in 1962, with the southern half known as Quảng Tín province. The province was also the site of heavy fighting during the Vietnam War, until it was captured in the Hue – Da Nang Campaign. The two provinces were merged again after unification in 1976. In 1997 its former capital city of Da Nang was separated into its own administrative entity.
On 12 June 2025, as part of major nationwide reforms, Quảng Nam province was dissolved and merged with Da Nang city.
Geography Location
Quảng Nam comprises flat land along the coast and increasingly high elevations towards the west, with the highest elevations along the border to Laos and Kon Tum province. The highest peak is Ngọc Linh mountain at 2598m.Atlat Dia li Viet Nam (Geographical Atlas of Vietnam). NXB Giao Duc, Hanoi: 2010 In contrast to the other provinces of the South Central Coast there are no hills or mountains near the coast (with the exception of the Chàm Islands with a peak of 517m).
Quang Nam Province is located in the South Central Coast region of Central Vietnam, 820 km south of Hanoi, 235 km south of Hue City, bordering Da Nang City in the North and 900 km north of Ho Chi Minh City by National Highway 1A, with the following geographical location:
The northwest borders Hue city.
The northeast borders Da Nang city.
The southwest borders Kon Tum province.
The southeast borders Quang Ngai province.
The west borders Sekong province of Laos country.
The east borders the South China Sea.
The provincial capital of Quang Nam is located in Tam Ky City, with the ancient town of Hoi An. Quang Nam is located between Hanoi City and Ho Chi Minh City by National Highway 1A and Ho Chi Minh Road.
Quang Nam Province has an area of , the 6th largest in Vietnam.
Terrain
The terrain gradually decreases from west to east and is divided into 3 regions: the western mountainous region, the midland in the middle and the eastern coastal plain. Quang Nam is located in the tropical monsoon climate zone, the average annual temperature is above 25 °C, the average annual rainfall is 2,000-2,500mm with more than 70% concentrated in the 3 rainy months (October, November and December). Vu Gia - Thu Bon and Tam Ky are the two main river basins in Quang Nam.
In general, the natural conditions of Quang Nam (weather-climate, terrain, water resources, sea) have many advantages and potentials for the development of diverse and unique cultural careers (developing cultural sub-regions), developing tourism (cultural tourism, eco-tourism).
Quang Nam has a terrain direction that gradually slopes from west to east, forming 3 distinct ecological landscapes: the western high mountains, the midland in the middle and the coastal plain. The mountainous area accounts for 72% of the natural area with many peaks over 2,000m high such as Lum Heo mountain at 2,045m high, Tion mountain at 2,032m high, Gole - Lang mountain at 1,855m high (Phuoc Son district). Ngoc Linh mountain at 2,598m high lies between the border of Quang Nam and Kon Tum, the highest peak of the Truong Son range. In addition, the coastal area east of the Truong Giang river is a long stretch of sand dunes running from Dien Ngoc, Dien Ban to Tam Quang, Nui Thanh. The terrain surface is divided by a fairly developed river system including the Thu Bon river, Tam Ky river and Truong Giang river. Quang Nam has a 125 km long coastline, with many beautiful and famous beaches such as: Ha My (Dien Ban), Cua Dai (Hoi An), Binh Minh (Thang Binh), Tam Thanh (Tam Ky), Bai Rang (Nui Thanh),... Cu Lao Cham is a cluster of coastal islands with a rich ecosystem recognized as a world biosphere reserve.
Climate
Quang Nam is located in a tropical climate zone, with only two seasons: rainy season and dry season, influenced by the cold winter of the North. The average annual temperature is 25.6 °C. In winter, the temperature in the plains can drop below 12 °C and the temperature in the mountains is even lower. The average humidity in the air is 84%. The average rainfall is 2000-2500mm. The rainy season usually lasts from October to December, the dry season lasts from February to August, January and September are transitional months characterized by turbulent weather and a lot of rain. Rain is unevenly distributed in space, with more rain in the mountains than in the plains. The Northwest region in the Bung River basin (Dong Giang, Tay Giang and Nam Giang districts) has the lowest rainfall, while the Southwest mountainous region in the Thu Bon River basin (Nam Tra My, Bac Tra My, Tien Phuoc and Hiep Duc districts) has the highest rainfall. Tra My is one of the largest rainfall centers in Vietnam with an average annual rainfall exceeding 4,000 mm. Heavy rains are concentrated in a short period of time during the 3-month rainy season on a narrow, steep terrain, creating favorable conditions for rapid river flooding.
There are currently two meteorological stations in the province that have monitored all meteorological factors for a long time (starting from 1976), namely Tam Ky station and Tra My station. Tam Ky station located in Hoa Thuan ward, Tam Ky city is used to calculate relevant meteorological factors for the eastern plain of the province. Tra My station located in Tra My town, Bac Tra My district is used to calculate relevant meteorological factors for the western mountainous region of the province.
Hydrology
Quang Nam has two large river systems: Vu Gia - Thu Bon (VG-TB) and Tam Ky. The VG-TB basin area (including a part of the basin in Kon Tum, Quang Ngai, Da Nang city) is 10,350 km², one of the 10 river systems with the largest basin area in Vietnam and the Tam Ky river basin is 735 km². The rivers originate from the eastern slope of the Truong Son range, flowing mainly in the West-East direction and emptying into the East Sea at the Han estuary (Da Nang), Dai estuary (Hoi An) and An Hoa (Nui Thanh). In addition to the two river systems above, the Truong Giang river is 47 km long, flowing along the coast in the North-South direction connecting the VG-TB and Tam Ky river systems.
Due to the steep terrain and heavy rainfall, the river network of Quang Nam province is quite dense. The average river density is 0.47 km/km² for the VG-TB system and 0.6 km/km² for other river systems.
The rivers have large flow rates, full of water all year round. Flow rates The average annual flow of the Vu Gia River (up to Thanh My town with a basin area of 1,850 km²) is 127 m³/s, and of the Thu Bon River (up to Nong Son with a basin area of 3,130 km²) is 281 m³/s. The flow regime of rivers has clear seasonal differences. The flow in the 3 months of the flood season (October, November, December) accounts for 65 - 70% of the total annual flow while the flow in the dry season (from February to August) is very low. January and September are transitional months with erratic flow. The maximum flow of the Thu Bon River at Nong Son is 10,600 m³/s and the minimum measured flow is 15.7 m³/s while the maximum flow of the Vu Gia River at Thanh My is 4,540 m³/s and the minimum is 10.5 m³/s. High flow in the rainy season and low flow in the dry season are the main causes of floods and droughts in the region.