 The province was administered from Chợ Bờ (in Đà Bắc District), hence it was also known as "Chợ Bờ Province", until in November of the same year, it was relocated to Phương Lâm District (today in Bất Bạt District, Hà Tây Province).In April 1888 it was renamed "Phương Lâm Province" by the French colonial authorities.On March 18, 1891, the Governor-General of French Indochina decreed that the name of the province would change to Hòa Bình Province with six districts