4.1.1. Geographical location and natural conditions
Can Tho city is located in the center of the Mekong Delta, in the lower Mekong region with a total natural area of 1,401.61 km2, accounting for 3.49%
of the entire area. It is located on the West of Hau River, 75 km from the East Sea, 1,877 km from Ha Noi capital and 169 km North of Ho Chi Minh City (by road). It borders An Giang and Dong Thap provinces to the North, Hau Giang province to the South, Kien Giang province to the West, Vinh Long and Dong Thap provinces to the East. Can Tho is a city with nine administrative units, including five districts (Binh Thuy, Cai Rang, Ninh Kieu, O Mon, Thot Not) and four districts (Co Do, Phong Dien, Thoi Lai, Vinh Thanh) with 83 units administrative position at commune level, including five townships, 42 wards and 36 communes (divided into 630 areas, clusters and hamlets); in which Ninh Kieu district is the center. Can Tho city is located in the alluvial deposition area of the Mekong River for many years, with a topography very typical for the plain topography. It has a system of rivers and canals interlaced. The common average altitude is from 0.2 m to 1 m above sea level. In which, Hau river is the largest river with a total length of 65 km flowing through the city, 20 km long Cai Lon river, 16 km long Can Tho river, emptying into Hau river at Ninh Kieu wharf. Besides, Can Tho also has a dense system of small canals, providing fresh water during two rainy and sunny seasons, creating conditions for farmers to do irrigation and improve soil. Can Tho city has geographical coordinates from 105°13'38" to 105°50'35" East longitude, from 9°55'08" to 10°19'38"
North latitude stretching over 60 km along West bank of Hau River.
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Source: Can Tho portal, 2021
Figure 4-1. Administrative map of Can Tho city
Can Tho city in the region is under the influence of tropical monsoon climate. There are two distinct seasons in the year, the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season is from December to April next year; northeast's wind.
The average monthly temperature is from 26°C to 28°C. There are the highest number of sunny hours of the year in the months of January, February and March. Convenient for harvesting and preserving rice. Rainy season from May to November; southwest monsoon. The average temperature of the rainy season is from 26°C to 27°C. Rain is concentrated in September and October. Average common rainfall in the month is from 220 mm to 420 mm. The last months of the season cause widespread flooding due to heavy rainfall and flooding upstream. The advantages of natural conditions in Can Tho City are very favorable for the growth and development of organisms, which can create a tropical agricultural system with high productivity, with many varieties of seedlings, creating so the diversity in production and in the restructuring of production. However, the rainy season is often accompanied by floods affecting about 50% of the city's area, the dry season is often accompanied by a lack of irrigation water, causing difficulties for production and daily life, especially in affected areas. The effects of salinity and alum make agricultural production more seasonally dependent and unevenly water-demanding.
Water resources in the city are quite abundant, mainly from surface water, rain water and groundwater. Can Tho city has a total of thirdteen rivers. The
35 main rivers include: Hau river (international river), Don Dang river, Rach Soi river, O Mon river, Can Tho river, Binh Thuan river. Currently, the exploitation of surface water in Can Tho is mainly taken from the water source of Hau river and Can Tho river. Can Tho has fertile land resources with an area of alluvial soil accounting for 84% of the natural area, which is regularly replenished, suitable for cultivation of rice, cash crops, food crops, short-term industrial plants, tropical specialty fruit trees, creating favorable conditions for Can Tho to develop agriculture in a comprehensive way. In addition, there are a number of other soil types, mainly low saline soil, alkaline soil accounts for 16% of the remaining area.
4.1.2. Social situation
According to the Can Tho City Statistical Yearbook in 2021, the population of Can Tho City is 1,246,993 people. In which, the urban population reached nearly 876,923 people, accounting for 70.3% of the city's population, the rural population reached 370,070 people, accounting for 69.7% of the population. Male population reached 619,115 people, accounting for 49.6%, while female population reached 627,878 people, accounting for 50.4%. Since 2009, Can Tho's population size has not changed much, with an average population growth rate of 0.39%.
Can Tho city has a young population structure with a high level of education that enhances the ability to learn and receive advanced science and technology. The Census of the Census Bureau of Can Tho City also provides an overview of the education situation. Specifically, 96.4% of the population aged 15 and over can read; 87.9% of the population of high school age is attending school. The total number of employees aged 15 and over is 584,330 people. In which, female employees are 240,106 people, accounting for 41.09%; male employees are 344,224 people, accounting for 58.91%. The unemployment rate in working age is 3.96%.
4.1.3. Economic situation
Can Tho city has become a grade I city directly under the Central Government with many infrastructures, typically Tra Noc industrial park in Binh Thuy district. Ninh Kieu District is the commercial center of Can Tho City with a series of markets (Can Tho ancient market, Tan An market, An Hoa market) and high-class shopping centers (Sence City Trade Center, Lotte Mart supermarket, Go supermarket, Vincom Plaza). The city has organized planning with the goal of building to ensure sustainable development and imbued with the identity of the Mekong Delta.
36 In 2021, the agriculture, forestry and fishery sector accounts for 9.44%;
industry and construction accounted for 30.64%; service sector accounted for 52.32%; product tax minus product subsidies accounted for 7.60%. Economic situation in the third quarter and nine months of 2022, continued to maintain the momentum of recovery and development. Production and business activities all increased over the same period such as: stable and growing agricultural, forestry and fishery production, and product consumption markets were opened and expanded. Industrial production index in the third quarter increased by 92.82%
and in 9 months by 30.86% over the same period; commercial activities and services have gradually become vibrant again, serving the entertainment and shopping needs of the people. Total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the third quarter increased by 98.20%, nine months increased by 43.53% over the same period; the average consumer price index in the third quarter increased by 1.67%, the average of nine months increased by 2.64% compared to the average of the same period.
The situation of trade and services in Can Tho city has many industries and fields that have recovered very quickly such as accommodation, food and tourism, some entertainment services also have impressive growth. Attractions to attract tourists such as pedestrian bridge, Ninh Kieu wharf, Cai Rang floating market, Luu Huu Phuoc park,... Especially green tourism, ecotourism is one of the trends that have been popularized by tourists current favorite. especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, ecotourism is a strength and is attracting a large number of tourists during holidays and summer holidays. Other service revenue is estimated at 10,837.70 billion VND, up 54.99% and food service increased by 12.91% over the same period in 2021.
By the beginning of 2022, Can Tho City has created jobs for 4,857 workers (37 people are supplied to work abroad). Accumulated from the beginning of the year, 46,244 employees have been created jobs, reaching 91.75% of the plan, up 98.48% over the same period in 2021. In addition, the Employment Service Center has provided job counseling, employment policy and vocational training for 13,824 turns; introduced jobs at home and abroad for 1,763 times, provided domestic and foreign labor for 158 people. In addition, the government also collects 1,106 vacancies of enterprises wishing to recruit through surveys and updates from recruitment channels of enterprises; collect information of 318 turns of laborers who are looking for a job into the database system in order to make statistics on the current state of the labor market.
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