Nam Định is subdivided into 10 district-level sub-divisions:
9 districts:
1 provincial city:
* Nam Định
They are further subdivided into 15 commune-level towns, 194 communes, and 20 wards.
Topography
Nam Định Province can be divided into 3 regions: The low-lying delta region, comprising Vụ Bản District, Ý Yên District, Nam Trực District, Trực Ninh District and Xuân Trường District. This region has a high level of agriculture and textile and manufacturing industries. The lowland coastal region, which is home to Giao Thủy, Hải Hậu and Nghĩa Hưng districts. Nam Định's coastline is long and has favorable conditions for raising livestock and fishing. Xuân ThủyNational Nature Reserve is located in this region. The Central region, where Nam Định is located, is supported through textile and garment industries, mechanical and processing industries, and traditional trades. Along with a general services sector, there is a growing professional sector as well. Nam Định is at the center of Vietnam's growing textile and trade gateway to the south via the Red River Delta. Nam Định has four major estuaries: Ba Lạt, Đáy, Lạch Giang and Hà Lạn.
Climate
Like most other provinces in the North Delta region, Nam Định has a humid subtropical climate. The average annual temperature ranges from 23 to 24 °C. The coldest months are December and January, with average temperatures ranging from 16 to 17 °C and the hottest month being July, with temperatures over 29 °C. The average annual rainfall is between and per year, divided into two distinct seasons: the rainy season from May to October, and the non-rainy, or less rainy, season from November to February. The total number of hours of sunlight per year averages out about 1,650 to 1,700 hours per year, and the average relative humidity is 80 to 85 per cent. Additionally, being next to the Gulf of Tonkin, Nam Định is normally affected by tropical storms and monsoons, with an average of four to six storms per year.
Economy
In 2000 the estimated provincial gross domestic product reached US$400,000. In 2005, the economy structure was as follows: agriculture, forestry and fishing 41 per cent; industrial and construction 21.5 per cent; services 38 per cent.
Industrial zones
Hòa Xá Industrial Zone: Located in Nam Định with a total area of. The total estimated investment is about US$18.76 billion, with approximately 86 investment projects.
Mỹ Trung Industrial Park: Located in Mỹ Lộc District and Lộc Hạ Ward, in the city of Nam Định, bordering National Highway 10. This area is still under development, with a total area of but can be expanded up to. The total expected investment is approximately US$16.2 – 19 million.
Thành An Industrial Park: Located in the colonial part of Nam Định and Tân Thành - Vụ Bản, which borders National Highway 10 and connecting roads from National Highway 10 to Road 21, which leads to the port of Hải Thịnh and other southern districts of the province. Thành An Industrial Park can expand their planning up to. The total investment for Thành An is approximately US$19 – 21.6 million.
Bảo Minh Industrial Park: Belongs to Vụ Bản District in Nam Định, located south of the National Highway 10 and approximately from Nam Định. Bảo Minh Industrial Park is and has a total investment of US$16.2 - 21.6 million.
Hồng Tiến Industrial Park: Located just away from Nam Định, in Ý Yên District, its convenient location has it settled next to the National Highway 10, away from Binh Bình, and also along the North-South National railway. The total area of Hồng Tiến is about. This industrial park was first setup as an investment infrastructure for Vietnam Petroleum Corporation.
Ninh Cơ Industrial Park: Located along the Ninh Cơ River, it is approximately 500 ha, which includes seaports, ship building, industrial engineering, import and export processing and transporting, and tourism services along the river in two districts. Ninh Cơ Industrial Park is operated by VINASHIN Shipbuilding Company.
Culture and society
Education
Nam Định Province is well known in Vietnam for its traditional education system and schools. Nam Định has four universities. Lê Hồng Phong High School is one of the top ranked high schools in all of Vietnam. Other top schools in Nam Định are Giao Thủy A High School, Trần Hưng Đạo High School, Nguyễn Khuyến High School, and Hải Hậu A, which were all in Vietnam's top 200 schools. Nam Định has 16 schools in the top 200, in addition to five schools in Vietnam's top 100 schools of 2009.
