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. 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. Its primary city of Hội An was destroyed and rebuilt during the Tay Son rebellion.
thumb|left|Map of Quang Nam province in 1909
thumb|Map of La Qua (Quảng Nam) citadel during the Nguyễn dynasty
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.
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. In contrast to the other provinces of the South Central Coast there are no hills or mountains near the coast Growth has been between 12 and 15% in the years from 2005 to 2007, mostly driven by a booming industrial sector (growing more than 20% per year) and to a lesser extent the service sector. GDP per capita in 2007 was 8.76 million Vietnamese đồng, 65.2% of the national average.
Culture
<big>Festival</big>
- The Ba Thu Bon Festival is a folk festival of the residents along the Thu Bon River, Quang Nam Province, with the purpose of praying for a new year of harmony and prosperity for the people. The festival is held annually on the 12th day of the second lunar month.[26] Interspersed with folk performances are the cheers of the spectators on both banks. The most important rituals are the Ba worship ceremony and the water procession to the temple. The Ba Thu Bon Temple is located in a riverside plain in Duy Xuyen District. The most important part of the festival is the Le Ba boat racing festival (Male-Female), the flower lantern releasing festival and the sacred fire burning on the alluvial banks of the Thu Bon River. The Ba Chiem Son Festival is a festival of the residents who raise silkworms and weave silk in Duy Trinh Commune, Duy Xuyen District. The festival is held on the 10th-12th day of the first lunar month at the Ba Chiem Son Palace. The festival is an opportunity to express respect to the person who gave birth to the silkworm breeding and weaving profession in the locality. Festival participants have the opportunity to enjoy typical dishes of Quang Nam people. The festival is also an opportunity to participate in folk games such as cockfighting, throwing balls into baskets, and singing Bai Choi.
- Hoi An Carnival is a street festival held for the first time in Hoi An city on New Year's Eve 2009 (solar calendar). The festival is modeled after the famous street Carnival festivals in European and Latin American countries
- The Ba Cho Duoc procession festival is held annually on January 11 (lunar calendar) in Binh Trieu commune, Thang Binh district. This is a type of spiritual festival to pay respect to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Cua. According to the document "Than Nu Linh Ung Truyen", she was born in 1799 in Dai Loc district, Quang Nam province. She died in 1817, at the age of 18. According to local residents, she is very sacred. During a trip to Phuoc Am village (now Cho Duoc, Binh Trieu commune, Thang Binh district, Quang Nam province), seeing the beautiful river scene, she chose this place to hold a market to help the residents have a more prosperous life. She transformed into a beautiful 18-year-old girl who sold water and betel leaves. Gradually, the surrounding residents gathered to trade, and Cho Duoc was formed and developed. To remember her merits, the residents in the area built a temple to worship her and the royal court conferred the title "Goddess Linh Ung - Nguyen Thi Dang Than".
- Nguyen Tieu Festival is a festival of the Chinese in Hoi An. The festival is held at Trieu Chau and Quang Trieu Assembly Halls on the 16th day of the first lunar month every year.
- The Old Quarter Full Moon Festival is held on the 14th day of the lunar month every month in the ancient town of Hoi An. At that time, the residents in the city will turn off all the lights, replacing them with the brilliant light from lanterns. The city lives in the quiet space of the past. Motor vehicles are not allowed to circulate. The streets are reserved for pedestrians to enjoy.
<big>Traditional craft village</big>
- Thanh Ha Pottery Village (Thanh Ha Ward, Hoi An City)
- Kim Bong Carpentry Village (Cam Kim Commune, Hoi An City)
- Phuoc Kieu Bronze Casting Village (Dien Phuong Ward, Dien Ban Town)
- Ma Chau Weaving Village (Nam Phuoc Town, Duy Xuyen District)
- Dong Yen - Thi Lai Mulberry Village (Duy Trinh Commune, Duy Xuyen District)
- Ban Thach Sedge Mat Weaving Village (Duy Vinh Commune, Duy Xuyen District)
- Tra Que Vegetable Village (Cam Ha Commune, Hoi An City)
- Lam Yen Drum Village (Dai Minh Commune, Dai Loc District)
- Noodle Making Village (Tan Thanh Ward, Tam Ky City)
- Cua Khe Traditional Fish Sauce Craft Village (Binh Duong Commune, Thang Binh District)
- Tam Thanh Mural Village (Tam Thanh Commune, Tam Ky City)
- Hoi An Silk Village (Hoi An City)
- Phu Ninh Fish Sauce Craft Village (Phu Ninh District)
Cuisine
Quang Nam is a province with many local specialties and cuisines such as: seafood, Quang noodles, Hoi An cao lau, Cau Mong grilled veal, Tra My cinnamon, Hoi An rice cake, Nui Thanh flying fish, Nam Tra My Ngoc Linh ginseng, Nam cake, Quang Nam sugar bowl, Tien Phuoc bon bon salad, Hong Dao wine, Dai Loc rice paper, wild bamboo shoots, Northwest bamboo rice, shallots, water fern cake, Dong Giang a rieu chili, Tay Nguyen rice wine, Tam Ky chicken rice, Hoi An xi ma, Thuan cake, Dai Binh pomelo, wild vegetables, purple ba kich, sesame cake, Tra Que tam huu, Quang sweet potato, Deo Le bamboo chicken, Dong Giang ra den tea, Dien Ban sugar cane, Northwest insects, green banana salad, Nong Son lotus leaf and mussels, pork rolls, Tien Phuoc pepper, steamed buns - vac cakes, Tam Ky jackfruit, salty green bean cakes, cactus vegetables, Hoi An tea, Co Tu croissant cakes, mussel dishes, sugar-dipped rice paper, Thang Binh pickled onions, snails. Tien River rocks, peanut candy (cu do cake), Tay Giang oranges, Hoi An bread, Co Tu zơ ra, banh xeo, Tam Thanh fish sauce, wild honey, Phu Triem rice paper, sticky rice with sugar, Tien Phuoc moldy banana, Hoi An rice cake, mixed mountain bamboo shoots, Ngang beach squid, Dai Loc pineapple, Tay Giang tr'din wine, green eel porridge, tapioca cake, Western bee pupae, nien fish, Nam Tra My apples, Hoi An wonton, Dong Phu cassava pho, Ta vat wine, shrimp rolls, Loc Dai bitter sticky rice, Cua Khe fish sauce, green lim mushrooms, Cu Lao Cham bird's nest.
Religion
As of April 1, 2019, the province had 11 different religions with 78,977 people, the most being Catholicism with 37,526 people, followed by Buddhism with 22,670 people, Protestantism with 11,730 people, Cao Dai with 6,970 people. The remaining religions include Baha'i with 36 people, Hoa Hao Buddhism with 17 people, Minh Su religion with 13 people, Brahmanism with seven people, Islam with five people, Minh Ly religion with two people and 1 person following Buu Son Ky Huong.
Sport
Tam Ky Stadium is located in the central area of Tam Ky city, where sports and cultural - social activities of the province are organized and is also the home ground of QNK Quang Nam Football Club. This is the football team representing Quang Nam province in the Vietnam National Football Championship Vleague.