Cà Mau is a
province of
Vietnam, named after
its capital city. It is located in the
Mekong Delta of southern Vietnam, and is the southernmost of Vietnam's 59 provinces. It is bordered on the north by the
Kien Giang and
Bac Lieu provinces, on the west by the
Gulf of Thailand, and on the south and east by the
South China Sea (often referred to as the "East Sea".) Its name came from the Khmers who inhabited the area before the arrival of the Vietnamese,
Ca Mau means
black in Khmer.
Economy
Being surrounded by sea on three sides, fishing is an important industry in Cà Mau province. An extensive network of canals also supports a strong agricultural sector, as well as providing a popular means of transport. The U Minh biosphere reserve and Mũi Cà Mau, the southernmost point of Vietnam, serve also as important tourism destinations. The
Mui Ca Mau National Park is located at Mũi Cà Mau.
Administration
Map of Cà Mau province, Vietnam, showing the eight administrative districts.
Politically, Cà Mau is divided into eight districts:
The provincial capital, also named
Cà Mau, is a separate municipality.
1997 Disaster
In November 1997 the Cà Mau peninsula was struck by
Typhoon Linda (Openg). Thousands of people were lost, and an estimated 200,000 homes were destroyed, along with much of the Cà Mau fishing fleet.
