Inhabited by the Vietnamese since prehistoric times, Thai Nguyen has guarded the northern flank of the capital Thang Long since the Ly dynasty. In 1831, King Minh Mang established Thai Nguyen province as an important administrative and military center. The place names in Thai Nguyen reflect aspirations for prosperity and stability: Pho Yen, Phu Binh, Phu Luong, Dinh Hoa, Dong Hy, Dai Tu. Peace, prosperity, joy, and growth are woven into the names of this “vast and flat” land.

Famous sites in Thai Nguyen include Hong Mountain, Than Sa – Phuong Hoang Forest, the Cong River and Coc Mountain, De Pass, and Khe Pass. Each location is linked to a legend that adds to the land’s mystique. This remote region experienced many battles to defend the nation’s borders, led by figures like Duong Tu Minh of Phu Luong during the Ly dynasty and Luu Nhan Chu of Dai Tu, a founding hero of the Le dynasty. Its strategic position as a gateway to the plains made Thai Nguyen a focal point for uprisings against colonial rule by leaders like Doi Can and Luong Ngoc Quyen in the early 20th century. The region also played a key role in the August Revolution, contributing to the formation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam and later becoming the center of the Viet Bac Safe Zone, known as the “capital of a thousand winds.”