and is only otherwise affected by local storms. The average annual temperature in Bình Dương is , with the highest temperature recorded reaching , but the overnight low can fall to . In the dry season, the average annual humidity is between 76–80%, with the highest at 86% in September and the lowest at 66% in February. The average rainfall each year is 1,800–2,000 mm, but rainfall at Sở Sao crossroads in Bình Dương regularly measures up to 2,113.3 mm. Demographics Originally, the area now known as Bình Dương was heavily forested, and was dominated by peoples of the Xtiêng, Chơ Ro, Mnong, and Khmer Krom ethnic groups. In the 17th century, however, ethnic Vietnamese settlers arrived in the region from the east. Most were peasants, seeking to escape poverty by gaining land of their own. There were also a number of refugees from a war between two feudal houses. In 1698, there were enough people in the area that a prominent Vietnamese general was sent to establish official institutions and enforce law. From that point, Bình Dương developed rapidly, with extensive clearance of forests to make room for crops. The province is now dominated by ethnic Vietnamese. Administrative divisions Bình Dương is subdivided into nine district-level sub-divisions: 4 districts: Bàu Bàng Bắc Tân Uyên Dầu Tiếng Phú Giáo 2 district-level towns: Bến Cát (recently upgraded from district status) Tân Uyên (recently upgraded from district status) 3 provincial cities: Thủ Dầu Một (capital) Dĩ An Thuận An They are further subdivided into 4 commune-level towns (or townlets), 42 communes, and 45 wards. Economy The area is considered to be good cropland, and agriculture is an important industry in the province. Bình Dương is also home to a significant manufacturing industry, and in the first half of 2004, the province had the second highest levels of foreign investment in Vietnam. Nike, Adidas, H&M and McDonald's have set up factories to manufacture goods they sell locally and abroad in the province. The southern Dĩ An and Thuận An wards are highly urbanised and are now encompassed within the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area. In the first half of 2018, foreign investment in Bình Dương totaled US$850 million, more than 60% of the target. Since 2016, the province has attracted US$5.7 billion worth of FDI. At its current growth rate, Bình Dương will exceed the target of US$7 billion set for its