APOSTOLIC VICARIATE OF THAI-BINH. - 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 2207 sq km. A characteristic of this vicariate is the notable number of Catholics in relation to the very small area of the territory. Out of a population of 1,850,000 inhabitants, Catholics number 116,200.
On Sept. 5, 1848, the vicariate of central Tonkin was detached from the apostolic vicariate of eastern Tonkin (today Haiphong), and on Dec. 3, 1924 it took the name of apostolic vicariate of Buichu (v.). From this vicariate, on March 9, 1936, the apostolic vicariate of T.-B. was dismembered and entrusted to the Dominicans of the province of the Most Holy Rosary of the Philippine Islands. The history of the beginnings of evangelization in this circumscription is common to that of all the missions of Tonkin. Having arrived in Cochinchina as early as 1615, the Jesuits did not enter Tonkin until nine years later. The successes of Christianity in the southern Kingdom decided the superiors of Macao to try their fortune among the populations of the rich northern lordship. Alessandro de Rhodes, who had distinguished himself since his arrival in Cochinchina for his aptitude for the native language, was then recalled to Macao and designated to undertake the mission of Tonkin, where he landed on March 19, 1627, linking his name to the origins of the flourishing Tonkinese Christian communities. Statistics: 60 native priests and 17 foreign; 307 native sisters and 3 foreign; 5 major seminarians; 198 elementary schools; 48 secondary schools; 4 vocational schools; 16 hospitals; one dispensary; 19 orphanages; 2 homes for the aged; a school for the deaf and mute; 51 primary stations, 372 churches and 218 chapels.
Bibliography3 works
Edoardo Pecoraio
(phot. Laboratorio foto discografico - Terra Santa)
THABOR - Basilica of the Transfiguration on T., architects A. and G. Barluzzi.