Hiep Binh Chanh Ward

Clutching a worn photograph, a woman whispers, “Is this the place? Hiep Binh Chanh Ward?” Hiep Binh Chanh Ward. A place etched in the heart of Thu Duc City, within the sprawling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s a ward woven from threads of history, stretching back to the days of the Nguyen dynasty. Back then, this area consisted of Binh Chanh village and part of Binh Trieu village. These villages belonged to An Tho canton, in Ngai An district. They fell under the jurisdiction of Phuoc Long province, within the larger Bien Hoa province. Time marched on, leaving its footprints on Hiep Binh Chanh. French colonial rule arrived, redrawing boundaries and merging villages. Binh Chanh, Binh Phuoc, and Binh Trieu became Hiep Binh Xa village, part of Thu Duc district in Gia Dinh province. The year 1956 brought another shift, changing “villages” to “communes.” Hiep Binh Xa became Hiep Binh commune. After 1975, it was renamed Hiep Binh commune, still within Thu Duc district. But the story doesn’t end there. On February 14, 1987, a decision split Hiep Binh into two: Hiep Binh Chanh and Hiep Binh Phuoc. Hiep Binh Phuoc started with 628 hectares and 9,610 residents. Then, on January 6, 1997, Hiep Binh Chanh Ward was officially established, encompassing 626 hectares and a population of 16,508. This marked the birth of Thu Duc district, incorporating Hiep Binh Chanh and several other communes. Finally, in December 2020, Thu Duc district, including Hiep Binh Chanh Ward, was absorbed into the newly created Thu Duc City. Today, Hiep Binh Chanh Ward stands as a testament to this rich and layered past. A place where whispers of history mingle with the vibrant energy of a modern city. A place where, perhaps, the woman with the photograph will find the answers she seeks.