The Government has decided to upgrade Ba Ria town to the capital city of the Southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau. The city has total area of 9,146.5 hectares with a population of 122,424. In the first six months of 2012, the city’s total industrial value stood at VND 1,215 billion, up 18.7% against the same period last year meanwhile the revenue of the service-trade sector reached VND 2,700 billion, an increase of 25%.