An Giang in the Mekong delta in the south west of Vietnam, bordering Cambodia, has a population of 2, 2 million where six out of ten live in the countryside.
The size of the province is about the same as the Municipality of Piteå but with a population 50 times bigger. 1, 5 million of the population is in working age. The official language is Vietnamese.
The literacy rate in Vietnam is high, close to 93% in 2008. In Long Xuyen, the administrative center of An Giang, there is a small University with 10.000 students. In the whole of Vietnam there is more than 1, 5 million students at different Universities. Even if there have been long wars and financial problems the government has prioritized education, but facing problems in the area.
Growth
The Mekong delta in the An Giang Province is an area with strong economic growth. They are aiming at a growth rate of 11% in the year 2020 and a gross national income of 3000 US$. In 2010 it was roughly 1100 US $
Agriculture and fishing
Every other person working in Vietnam is in agriculture and in An Giang it is more than that. Roughly ¼ of the country is cultivated but in An Giang it is 79 %. The rivers and the canals are extremely important for transportation.
Rice is the overall dominating crop and through irrigation they can harvest rice twice a year. The government owns more or less all land but the farmers can lease it for 20 years at a time. The lease can either be sold or inherited.
Vietnam is worldwide the second biggest producer of rice but also fish farming is of great financial importance in the district. Almost 50 % of the fish we eat today is farmed and most of it comes from South East Asia. In Vietnam fish farming has old traditions and fish and sea food are today among the most important products for export.