Từ Liêm

History

Middle Ages

The site of Từ Liêm Ward was once the administrative center of Từ Liêm Rural District (慈廉縣, Từ Liêm huyện), which was established by the Đường Dynasty in 621 as a suburb area of Đại La citadel. The reason for this name is because, according to Tang Book, this place used to be located next to a small river, which has now been filled in during the expansion of Hà Nội city from the early 20th century. The last remaining vestiges of that river are three landmarks : Kẻ Chèm, Kẻ Vẽ and Trích Sài.

When the Lý Dynasty began building Thăng Long the capital citadel, the modern location of Từ Liêm naturally became its western gate until the Tây Sơn Dynasty was destroyed. Collection de cartes annamites sur le Tonquin - btv1b531580269 (09 of 27).jpg|Location and name of Từ Liêm District in the administrative map of the French Tonkin. Đình Ngọc Mạch thờ Hoàng Tử Lý Nhã Lang.jpg|Ngọc Mạch communal hall Đình Chèm 2 - NKS.jpg|Kẻ Chèm communal hall Đình Chèm 4.jpg|Latin stele of Kẻ Chèm communal hall

20th century

Từ Liêm Rural District has changed into Từ Liêm District (慈廉郡, quận Từ Liêm) belonging to Hà Đông province by the State of Vietnam regime from 1948 to 1954.

On May 31, 1961, Từ Liêm Rural District has been transferred to Hà Nội city by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

21st century

On December 27, 2013, Từ Liêm Rural District was continued to divided into two urban districts Bắc Từ Liêm and Nam Từ Liêm, still belonging to Hanoi.

On April 23, 2025, the Nam Từ Liêm Urban-District People's Council, term III from 2021 to 2026, held the 23rd session to pass a Resolution for approving the policy of implementing the plan to re-arrange ward-level administrative units in its whole area. Accordingly, parallel with the dissolution of Nam Từ Liêm Urban District is the establishment of 4 new ward-level administrative units : Đại Mỗ, Tây Mỗ, Từ Liêm, Xuân Phương.

Basic administrative unit named Từ Liêm Ward (慈廉坊, phường Từ Liêm) includes the entire area and population of former Cầu Diễn ward, most of the same ones of four former wards Mễ Trì, Mỹ Đình 1, Mỹ Đình 2, Phú Đô from former Nam Từ Liêm Urban District and part of the same ones of former Mai Dịch ward from Cầu Giấy Urban District. Its name was restored after a period of being shared by two former urban districts to honor the cultural and historical values of the middle-age village-level administrative unit, which had existed for many centuries.

References

1. [https://dantri.com.vn/xa-hoi/quan-dau-tien-o-ha-noi-thong-qua-chu-truong-sap-xep-cac-phuong-moi-20250423143755641.htm Quận đầu tiên ở Hà Nội thông qua chủ trương sắp xếp các phường mới]
2. [https://danviet.vn/chuyen-bay-gio-moi-tiet-lo-ve-ngoi-lang-co-giua-long-thu-do-ha-noi-20221125092338869-d1058911.html An old village in the center of Hanoi City]
3. [https://namtuliem.hanoi.gov.vn/gioi-thieu-chung General introduction about Nam Từ Liêm Urban District]