The two provinces of Dak Lak and Phu Yen were once merged into Kon Tum province. Which province now grows the most coffee in the country?

That was at the beginning of the 20th century, when on February 9, 1913, the Governor-General of Indochina issued a Decree to establish Kon Tum province, including Kon Tum agency separated from Binh Dinh province, Cheo Reo agency separated from Phu Yen province and Dak Lak agency. Before that, in 1904, Dak Lak province was established, located in the western part of Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces.

Dak Lak, from mysterious land to "capital" of the Central Highlands

According to information in Dak Lak newspaper about the history of more than 120 years of Dak Lak province's formation, before 1904, Dak Lak was the largest plateau located in the center of the Central Highlands, known by different names.

The book Dai Nam Thuc Luc said: "The country of Thuy Xa and Hoa Xa was formerly called Nam Ban, a descendant of Champa. During the time of Le Thanh Tong, he defeated Champa (in 1471) and took the descendants of the King of that country, calling it Nam Ban country, located to the west of Thach Bi mountain" (Dai Nam Thuc Luc Chinh Bien, Social Sciences Publishing House - 1970, volume 23, pages 145,146).

Based on historical documents recorded during the Nguyen Dynasty, we know that before being under the control of French colonialists, the Central Highlands was the territory of two countries, Thuy Xa and Hoa Xa, under the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1884).

Thus, the Central Highlands in general and Dak Lak in particular have existed for a long time, especially since the war to open up the land to the South by Le Thanh Tong (in 1471) and was under the control of the Vietnamese monarchy. At that time, the Central Highlands region, including Dak Lak, was still a very strange and mysterious area for the Kinh people.

On June 1, 1895, the Laotian governor Boulloche divided the Lao territory into two separate regions, one called Upper Laos headquartered in Luang Prabang, and one called Lower Laos headquartered in Kong of Stung Streng. The Hin truland Plateau was merged into three provinces: Stung Streng, including Dak Lak, Alopen and Saravane.

A corner of Buon Ma Thuot city (Dak Lak). Photo: VGP.

On November 22, 1904, the Supreme Council of the Governor General of Indochina issued a Decree separating Dak Lak from the territory of Laos and establishing it as a province under the supervision and administration of the Resident General of Annam (An Nam Ambassador). Also at this time (November 22, 1904), Dak Lak province was established in the western region of Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces, with Buon Ma Thuot as its provincial capital. Thus, with the Decree dated November 22, 1904, Dak Lak officially became one of 20 provinces and cities in Annam, with relatively stable administrative boundaries until the following years.

On February 9, 1913, the Governor-General of Indochina issued a Decree to establish Kon Tum province (formerly Kon Tum agency under the Quy Nhon consulate), including Kon Tum agency separated from Binh Dinh province, Cheo Reo agency separated from Phu Yen province and Dak Lak agency (Dak Lak province was dissolved and demoted to an agency) under Kon Tum province, from then on Dak Lak province no longer existed, but the place name still remained.

On July 2, 1923, the Governor-General of Indochina issued a Decree separating Dak Lak from Kon Tum province and establishing a separate province under the authority of a consul named Sabalier, who was the first consul of Dak Lak province after its re-establishment.

The country was unified. In February 1976, the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam issued a Decree to dissolve the zone and merge the provinces in the South, including Dak Lak province, including both Dak Lak province and the old Quang Duc province.

To successfully carry out the cause of building and defending the Fatherland in the new period of industrialization and modernization of the country, on November 26, 2003, at the 4th session, the 11th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam issued Decision No. 22/2003/QH XI, separating Dak Lak into two provinces, Dak Lak and Dak Nong.

Currently, Dak Lak province has 1 city Buon Ma Thuot, 1 town Buon Ho and 13 districts: Ea Sup, Buon Don, Cu M'gar, Krong Buk, Ea H'leo, Krong Nang, M'Drak, Ea Kar, Krong Buk, Krong Bong, Krong Ana, Lak, Cu Kuin and is the capital of coffee and durian of the Central Highlands.

Dak Lak has the largest coffee area in the country. Photo: Dak Lak Newspaper.

According to the latest statistics, the total product value in Dak Lak province in 2024 (GRDP at 2010 comparative prices) is estimated at 63,249 billion VND, an increase of 4.38% compared to 2023, ranking first in the Central Highlands region; average income per capita is estimated at 74.7 million VND/person; total export turnover is estimated at 1 billion 650 million USD, an increase of 10.3% compared to 2023; total retail sales of goods and service revenue is estimated at 105,000 billion VND, an increase of 4.96%.

Dak Lak's total crop area is nearly 680,000 hectares; of which, coffee ranks first in the country, with 213,000 hectares. Grain output is more than 1.3 million tons.

Phu Yen - 400 years old name and "land of yellow flowers and green grass"

According to information posted on the website of the National Archives Center IV (Da Lat City, Lam Dong), Phu Yen province - a land located in the center of the South Central Coast, is the place that marked the first steps of Vietnamese residents in the journey of expanding the country. Throughout more than 400 years of history, this land has witnessed many ups and downs, forging the tradition of patriotism, loyalty and indomitability of the people here.

Ghenh Da Dia, a famous tourist destination in Phu Yen province. Photo: Ethnic and Development Newspaper.

According to historical sources, Phu Yen is a land with a long history and has changed its name many times as well as adjusted its boundaries and administrative units. Regarding the history of Phu Yen, the wooden book Kham Dinh Viet Su Thong Giam Cuong Muc Chinh Bien, volume 45, engraved pages 2 and 3, recorded: Phu Yen, from the land of the ancient Viet Thuong clan, became Lam Ap district during the Qin Dynasty; the land of Tuong Lam district during the Han Dynasty, was changed to a district during the Sui Dynasty, and was changed to a prefecture during the Tang Dynasty; later it was the land of Champa, and was named Tuy Vien district during the Le Dynasty, and was changed to a town around the Gia Long year. Today it is Phu Yen province.

In 1611, Phu Yen prefecture was established, marking an important milestone in the history of the administrative boundary formation of the province, and from the prefecture's position, in 1744 Phu Yen citadel was established, demonstrating an important position in the territory expansion strategy of Lord Nguyen. In the year of Mau Thin (1808), King Gia Long changed Phu Yen citadel to Phu Yen town, marking a major turning point in the process of forming the province.

In 1826, Phu Yen town was downgraded to Phu Yen prefecture (belonging to Binh Dinh). In the year of Tan Mao (1831), King Minh Mang changed Phu Yen prefecture to Tuy An prefecture. In the year of Nham Thin (1832), King Minh Mang divided the remaining towns and military bases from Quang Nam to the South, and Tuy An prefecture was promoted to Phu Yen province. At this time, Phu Yen province included Tuy An prefecture and Dong Xuan and Tuy Hoa districts.

On June 6, 1884, the Hue court signed a treaty with the representative of the French Government, stipulating that Central Vietnam had 12 provinces. At this time, Phu Yen was divided into 1 prefecture and 2 districts: Tuy An prefecture, 2 districts: Dong Xuan and Tuy Hoa. In 1899, Phu Yen province was divided into 2 prefectures and 2 districts. According to Report No. 836 dated December 3, 1912 of the Resident sent to the Governor-General on the re-division of the borders of the Central provinces: Phu Yen province was abolished, Phu Yen was merged into Binh Dinh,...

On February 9, 1913, the Governor-General of Indochina issued a Decree establishing Kon Tum province. The territory of Kon Tum province included Kon Tum agency separated from Binh Dinh, Cheo Reo agency separated from Phu Yen and Dak Lak agency.

After the Geneva Agreement in 1954, Phu Yen province was divided into 5 districts: Tuy Hoa, Song Cau, Dong Xuan, Tuy An, Son Hoa. On March 17, 1959, a new district called Phu Duc of Phu Yen province was established, including a part of the Southeast of Cheo Reo (formerly Pleiku province), a part of Cu - Dlieya commune (formerly Dak Lak province), and two communes of Son Thanh and Son Binh.

After the liberation in 1975, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 245-NQ/TW dated September 20, 1975 on the abolition of zones and the consolidation of provinces. In which, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa provinces merged into Phu Khanh province. However, to meet the needs of management and development suitable to local conditions, the 8th National Assembly, 5th session in 1989, issued a resolution to separate Phu Khanh province into two provinces: Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa. On July 1, 1989, Phu Yen province was officially re-established, marking an important turning point in the local development process.

Through historical periods, Phu Yen is a land bearing the mark of the process of exploration and formation in the Central strip of land. Not only has a long history, Phu Yen is also famous for its majestic natural landscapes, with wild and attractive beauty, making Phu Yen an attractive destination on the tourist map of Vietnam.

Source: https://danviet.vn/hai-tinh-dak-lak-phu-yen-xa-xua-tung-duoc-sap-nhap-thanh-tinh-kon-tum-gio-tinh-nao-trong-nhieu-ca-phe-nhat-nuoc-20250321085405916.htm