Thanh Hóa City is the capital of Thanh Hóa Province. The city is situated in east of the province and beside noble Ma River (Sông Mã), about 150 km south of Hanoi and 1560 km north of Ho Chi Minh city. Thanh Hoa City became one of the most populous city in North Central Coast after expansion in 2012 with population of approximate 400.000. Thanh Hoa township had been upgraded to Thanh Hoa City in 1994 and has been centre of politic, economy, culture, education and entertainment of Thanh Hóa Province for a long time.