LANGSON e CAOBANG, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE of. - Situated in the extreme north-eastern corner of Tonkin (Vietnam), it comprises the two civil provinces of L., C. and half of the province of Hahiang. This mission was erected as an apostolic prefecture on 30 Dec. 1913, by dismemberment of the vicariate of northern Tonkin (now Bacninh), and entrusted to the French Dominican Fathers of the province of Lyons. Its elevation to an apostolic vicariate took place on 11 July 1939.
It has an area of 25,000 sq. km., predominantly mountainous, and a population of about 350,000 inhabitants, composed of various races, among which the principal are the Thai, Meo, and Man, partly nomadic, having distinct languages, customs, superstitions, and manner of dress. Besides the two cities of L. and C., there are more than two hundred villages scattered in the mountains.
During the Second World War the mission suffered much serious damage as a result of the Japanese occupation, and its conditions still remain abnormal because of the civil war in Vietnam. It has 4,964 Catholics, mostly Annamites, originating from the Tonkinese Delta; 396 catechumens; 14 native and 18 foreign priests; 38 native and 5 foreign sisters; 4 major seminarians; 19 primary and 3 secondary stations; a hospital, 4 orphanages, a home for the aged, and a leper colony. The city of L. is the residence of the Ordinary.