THAI-BINH, APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF. — Located in eastern Tonkin (Vietnam), it comprises the province of the same name, the most densely populated in Indochina, and the province of Hung-yen, with a total area of 2,207 sq. km. A notable feature of this vicariate is the large number of Catholics in relation to its small territory. Of a population of 1,850,000, 116,200 are Catholics.
On 5 Sept. 1848, the Apostolic Vicariate of Eastern Tonkin (now Haiphong) was divided, and the Vicariate of Central Tonkin was established; on 3 Dec. 1924, this took the Buichu (v.). From this vicariate, on 9 March 1936, the Apostolic Vicariate of T.-B. was detached and entrusted to the Dominicans of the Province of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippine Islands. The early history of the evangelization of this jurisdiction is the same as that of all the missions of Tonkin. The Jesuits, who had arrived in Cochinchina as early as 1615, did not enter Tonkin until nine years later. The successes of Christianity in the southern kingdom led the superiors of Macao to attempt their fortune among the peoples of the wealthy northern lordship. Alexander de Rhodes, who had already distinguished himself upon his arrival in Cochinchina for his aptitude in the native language, was then recalled to Macao and designated to undertake the mission to Tonkin, where he landed on 19 March 1627, linking his name to the origins of the flourishing Tonkinese Christian communities.
Statistics: 60 native priests and 17 foreign; 307 native nuns and 3 foreign; 5 major seminarians; 198 elementary schools; 48 middle schools; 4 professional schools; 16 hospitals; 1 dispensary; 19 orphanages; 2 homes for the elderly; 1 school for the deaf; 51 primary stations, 372 churches and 218 chapels.
THABOR
Thabor — Basilica of the Transfiguration on Mount T., architects A. and G. Barluzzi.
Thabor — View of Mount T. (560 m. above sea level).