Sóc Trăng

{{Infobox settlement | name = Sóc Trăng | official_name = Sóc Trăng City<br/>{{nobold|{{lang|vi|Thành phố Sóc Trăng}} }} | native_name = | other_name = ស្រុកឃ្លាំង | nickname = | settlement_type = Provincial city (Class-3) | total_type =  | motto =  | image_skyline = Bưu điện Sóc Trăng.jpg | image_size = 260px | image_caption = Soc Trang at night. | image_flag = | image_seal = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 11 | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Vietnam  | pushpin_label_position =  | pushpin_map_caption = Location of Sóc Trăng in Vietnam | pushpin_label = Sóc Trăng | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Vietnam}} | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = | seat_type = | seat =  | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 =  | leader_name1 = | established_title =  | established_date =  | area_magnitude = | unit_pref =  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 76.1522 | area_land_km2 =  | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent =  | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = | elevation_max_m = | elevation_min_m =  | population_as_of = 2018 | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 221,430 | population_density_km2 = 2284 | timezone = | utc_offset = | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|9|36|10|N|105|58|25|E|region:VN|display=inline,title}} | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | area_code = | website = | footnotes = }} '''Sóc Trăng''' ({{Audio|Soc Trang.ogg|listen|help=no}}; {{langx|km|ស្រុកឃ្លាំង}} {{lang|km-latn|Srok Khleang}} {{literal translation|Land of depositories}}) is a city in Vietnam. It was the capital of the former Sóc Trăng Province, now merged into Cần Thơ. It was upgraded from a town (thị xã) to a city following decree 22/2007/NĐ-CP on 8 February 2007.

== History == During the French colonial period, on December 20, 1899, the Governor-General of Indochina issued a decree converting the "hạt tham biện" (administrative regions) into provinces, and on January 1, 1900, the Sóc Trăng administrative region became Sóc Trăng Province, with its provincial capital located in Khánh Hưng village.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=LỊCH SỬ HÌNH THÀNH TỈNH SÓC TRĂNG |url=https://soctrang.dcs.vn/Default.aspx?sname=tinhuy&sid=4&pageid=469&pagekeyword=Detail&catid=54290&id=285029&catname=Tong-quan-ve-Soc-Trang&title=LICH-SU-HINH-THANH-TINH-SOC-TRANG |access-date=2025-03-25 |website= |language=en}}</ref>

During the era of the State of Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam, the name of Sóc Trăng Province and its capital remained unchanged. After 1956, villages were renamed as communes. In February 1950, Sóc Trăng town was established. The town's boundaries were adjusted in 1953 and 1961. In 1956, the Republic of Vietnam government merged Sóc Trăng and Bạc Liêu to form Ba Xuyên Province, with its capital located in Khánh Hưng. However, the revolutionary government continued to use the name Sóc Trăng.<ref name=":0" />

After 1975, the revolutionary government took over, and in 1976, Sóc Trăng, Cần Thơ, and Cần Thơ City were merged to form Hậu Giang Province, with Sóc Trăng town becoming part of Hậu Giang Province.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sóc Trăng: Hành trình lịch sử từ vùng đất hoang sơ đến tỉnh thành phát triển |url=https://doisongvaphattrien.vn/soc-trang-hanh-trinh-lich-su-tu-vung-dat-hoang-so-den-tinh-thanh-phat-trien-a47242.html |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=Đời sống và Phát triển Online |language=en}}</ref>

On December 26, 1991, Hậu Giang Province was split into Cần Thơ and Sóc Trăng Provinces, and Sóc Trăng town became the provincial capital.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2020-09-29 |title=Nghị quyết phân vạch lại địa giới hành chính tỉnh |url=https://thuvienphapluat.vn/van-ban/Bo-may-hanh-chinh/Nghi-quyet-phan-vach-lai-dia-gioi-hanh-chinh-tinh-42812.aspx |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=THƯ VIỆN PHÁP LUẬT}}</ref> In 1995, Sóc Trăng town expanded its boundaries and established additional wards.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dấu ấn 30 năm |url=https://soctrang.dcs.vn/Default.aspx?sname=tinhuy&sid=4&pageid=469&catid=54420&id=291492&catname=Soc-Trang---30-nam-tai-lap-tinh&title=Dau-an-30-nam#:~:text=L%C3%BAc%20b%E1%BA%A5y%20gi%E1%BB%9D%20th%E1%BB%8B%20x%C3%A3,l%C3%A0%207.615%2C22%20h%C3%A9c%20ta. |access-date=2025-03-25 |website= |language=en}}</ref> In 2007, Sóc Trăng town was upgraded to Sóc Trăng City. By 2022, Sóc Trăng City was recognized as a class-II urban area.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-04-21 |title=Thành phố Sóc Trăng là đô thị loại II |url=https://baochinhphu.vn/thanh-pho-soc-trang-la-do-thi-loai-ii-102220421111002705.htm#:~:text=(Chinhphu.vn)%20-%20Ph%C3%B3,tr%E1%BB%B1c%20thu%E1%BB%99c%20t%E1%BB%89nh%20S%C3%B3c%20Tr%C4%83ng.&text=N%C4%83m%202005,%20th%C3%A0nh%20ph%E1%BB%91%20S%C3%B3c,%C4%91%C3%A3%20%C4%91%E1%BA%A1t%2089,37%25. |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=baochinhphu.vn |language=vi}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sóc Trăng công bố Nghị quyết của Quốc hội sắp xếp đơn vị hành chính cấp xã 2023-2025 |url=https://vov.vn/chinh-tri/soc-trang-cong-bo-nghi-quyet-cua-quoc-hoi-sap-xep-don-vi-hanh-chinh-cap-xa-2023-2025-post1119889.vov |access-date=2025-03-25 |website=vov.vn}}</ref>

==Etymology== Sóc Trăng was known as Ba Xuyên during Minh Mạng's admininistration.<ref>(https://archive.org/details/TruongVinhKy_1875_PetitCoursDeGeographieDeLaBasseCochinchine/page/n13/mode/2up Petit Cours de Géographie de la Basse Cochinchine, Pétrus Ký, 1875)</ref>

During the Nguyễn Dynasty of emperor Minh Mạng, it was given the Sino-Vietnamese name Nguyệt Giang (月江), a calque of "Sông Trăng" (Moon River).<ref>{{in lang|vi}}{{cite web|url=http://www.soctrang-online.net/index.php?act=view&code=post&pid=1&cid=10&id=539|title=Truyền thuyết về Địa danh Sóc Trăng|date=2008-03-28}}</ref>

The name ''Sóc Trăng'' comes from the Khmer name of the area {{lang|km-latn|Srok Khleang}} ({{lang|km|ស្រុកឃ្��ាំង}}), which means ''Land of depositories'' or ''Place to store silver''. The Vietnamese transliteration gave ''Sốc Kha Lang'' and later ''Sóc Trăng''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baosoctrang.org.vn/van-hoa-the-thao/dia-danh-soc-trang-23053.html |title= Địa danh Sóc Trăng|language= Vietnamese |last= Lê |first= Trúc Vinh |date= 5 January 2019 |website= Sóc Trăng Online |access-date= 31 January 2024|quote= Sóc Trăng phiên dịch theo tiếng Khmer là “Srok Khleang” mà ra. “Srok” nghĩa là “xứ”, là “cõi”, “Khleang” là “kho”, là “vựa”, chỗ chứa nhiều vàng, bạc của nhà vua. Còn phiên âm tiếng Việt thành ra “Sốc Kha Lang” (Sóc Trăng).}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sovhttdl.soctrang.gov.vn/mDefault.aspx?sname=svhttdl&sid=1294&pageid=2660&catid=65022&catname=Tong-quan-Soc-Trang|title= GIỚI THIỆU TỔNG QUAN SÓC TRĂNG|language= Vietnamese |date= 1 July 2010 |website= Sóc Trăng Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism |access-date= 31 January 2024|quote= Theo các nhà nghiên cứu, tên gọi Sóc Trăng do từ Srok Kh'leang của tiếng Khmer mà ra. Srok tức là "xứ", "cõi", Kh'leang là "kho", "vựa", "chỗ chứa bạc". Srok Kh'leang là xứ có kho chứa bạc của nhà vua. Tiếng Việt phiên âm ra là "Sốc-Kha-Lang" rồi sau đó đọc thành Sóc Trăng. Dưới triều Minh Mạng, Sóc Trăng đuợc đổi tên thành Nguyệt Giang tỉnh (chữ Sóc biến thành chữ Sông, Trăng thành Nguyệt nên Sóc Trăng biến thành Sông Trăng rồi được đổi thành Nguyệt Giang).}}</ref>

==Administrative divisions== Sóc Trăng City is divided into 10 administrative divisions numbered 1 to 10. The city borders Long Phú District in the east and north, Mỹ Tú District in the west and north, Châu Thành District in the west and Mỹ Xuyên District in the south.

==Population== Besides the majority Kinh people, there are also ethnic Chinese and a significant Khmer Krom minority in the city.

==Culture== 50 of the 200 pagodas in Sóc Trăng Province are located in Sóc Trăng City. Some of the most famous ones are the Khmer Chùa Dơi (Bat Pagoda) and Chùa Đất Sét (Clay Pagoda), Chùa Phật nằm (Som Rong Pagoda).

==Transportation== Highway 1 connects the city to Cà Mau in the south, Cần Thơ, Ho Chi Minh City and cities further north. Regular buses run between these cities. Air travel is served by Can Tho International Airport located in Cần Thơ, which is approximately 60 km from the city's center.

==Climate== {{Weather box | location = Sóc Trăng | metric first = Y | single line = Y | width = auto | Jan record high C = 35.3 | Feb record high C = 35.6 | Mar record high C = 36.7 | Apr record high C = 37.5 | May record high C = 37.8 | Jun record high C = 35.5 | Jul record high C = 34.5 | Aug record high C = 34.8 | Sep record high C = 34.5 | Oct record high C = 34.4 | Nov record high C = 34.9 | Dec record high C = 33.5 |year record high C = 37.8 | Jan high C = 30.3 | Feb high C = 31.2 | Mar high C = 32.6 | Apr high C = 33.9 | May high C = 33.0 | Jun high C = 31.8 | Jul high C = 31.2 | Aug high C = 31.1 | Sep high C = 31.0 | Oct high C = 30.8 | Nov high C = 30.6 | Dec high C = 29.9 |year high C = 31.5 | Jan mean C = 25.3 | Feb mean C = 26.0 | Mar mean C = 27.3 | Apr mean C = 28.5 | May mean C = 28.1 | Jun mean C = 27.4 | Jul mean C = 27.1 | Aug mean C = 26.9 | Sep mean C = 26.8 | Oct mean C = 26.8 | Nov mean C = 26.6 | Dec mean C = 25.7 |year mean C = 26.9 | Jan low C = 22.2 | Feb low C = 22.5 | Mar low C = 23.7 | Apr low C = 24.8 | May low C = 25.0 | Jun low C = 24.8 | Jul low C = 24.5 | Aug low C = 24.5 | Sep low C = 24.5 | Oct low C = 24.5 | Nov low C = 24.1 | Dec low C = 22.8 |year low C = 24.0 | Jan record low C = 13.9 | Feb record low C = 13.1 | Mar record low C = 16.9 | Apr record low C = 18.8 | May record low C = 19.5 | Jun record low C = 21.8 | Jul record low C = 21.3 | Aug record low C = 21.3 | Sep record low C = 19.5 | Oct record low C = 15.7 | Nov record low C = 18.0 | Dec record low C = 13.0 |year record low C = 13.0 | rain colour = green | Jan rain mm = 7.7 | Feb rain mm = 3.5 | Mar rain mm = 13.8 | Apr rain mm = 62.3 | May rain mm = 234.0 | Jun rain mm = 268.0 | Jul rain mm = 261.8 | Aug rain mm = 286.8 | Sep rain mm = 284.8 | Oct rain mm = 308.6 | Nov rain mm = 137.1 | Dec rain mm = 36.6 |year rain mm = 1904.8 | Jan rain days = 1.7 | Feb rain days = 0.7 | Mar rain days = 1.5 | Apr rain days = 5.2 | May rain days = 18.4 | Jun rain days = 21.7 | Jul rain days = 22.5 | Aug rain days = 22.9 | Sep rain days = 23.4 | Oct rain days = 21.6 | Nov rain days = 11.9 | Dec rain days = 5.6 |year rain days = 156.9 | Jan humidity = 79.5 | Feb humidity = 78.3 | Mar humidity = 77.5 | Apr humidity = 78.3 | May humidity = 84.0 | Jun humidity = 86.6 | Jul humidity = 87.1 | Aug humidity = 87.5 | Sep humidity = 88.2 | Oct humidity = 87.6 | Nov humidity = 85.2 | Dec humidity = 82.4 |year humidity = 83.5 | Jan sun = 238.6 | Feb sun = 248.4 | Mar sun = 273.4 | Apr sun = 253.5 | May sun = 191.9 | Jun sun = 161.6 | Jul sun = 174.9 | Aug sun = 168.2 | Sep sun = 152.3 | Oct sun = 165.1 | Nov sun = 195.7 | Dec sun = 201.5 | year sun = 2422.1 | source 1 = Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology<ref name=IBST>{{cite web|title=Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology|url=https://datafiles.chinhphu.vn/cpp/files/vbpq/2022/10/02-bxd.pdf |lang=en}}</ref> }}

==Notable people== *Lý Hoàng Sơn, professional basketball player *Philipp Rösler, former Vice Chancellor of Germany, born in Sóc Trăng. ==References== {{reflist|2}} {{Cities in Vietnam}} {{Districts of Mekong Delta}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Soc Trang}} Category:Populated places in Cần Thơ Category:Districts of Sóc Trăng province Category:Provincial capitals in Vietnam Category:Former cities in Vietnam