Binh Thuan is a province of Vietnam. It is located on the country's South Central Coast, not far from Ho Chi Minh City. It is sometimes seen as part of the Southeast region. The province is known for its scenery and beaches. There are also a number of sites of archaeological significance. Much of what is now Binh Thuan Province was part of the Cham principality of Panduranga, which had its political centre in neighbouring Ninh Thuan Province. It was the last independent principality after the fall of Vijaya in 1471. Binh Thuan was later incorporated into Vietnam, while Ninh Thuan remained independent longer, until 1832. Before 1976, Binh Thuan Province was much smaller because much of the west was in the separate Bình Tuy Province). Bình Tuy, Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuận were merged in 1976 to form Thuan Hai Province. It was divided again into Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan in 1991, while Binh Tuy remained part of Binh Thuiaận Province. (Wikipedia)