Mỹ Tho

Mỹ Tho is in southern Vietnam.

It sits by the Mỹ Tho River. Many people like to ride in boats there.

People sell food on floating markets. You can buy fruit and fish from boats. They also make a yummy noodle soup.

Many people live in this area. They grow coconuts and bananas. They also catch fish from the water.

You can see many pretty temples. The river has four islands. They have names like Dragon and Phoenix.

It is a very busy place to visit.

Mỹ Tho was a city in southern Vietnam.

It sat in the Mekong Delta region. This area is known as a rice basket for the country. The city sat by the Mỹ Tho River.

It was founded in the 1680s. It was named after the river.

Many people lived in Mỹ Tho. Most were Kinh people. Other groups included the Hoa, Cham, and Khmer. People used boats, bikes, and motorbikes to get around.

You could take boat trips to see four islands. These islands have names like Dragon, Tortoise, Phoenix, and Unicorn.

The city was a center for many things. It was a place for schools and new ideas. People grew coconuts, bananas, and longans there. They also caught fish from the river and sea. The markets were very big. People sold fruit and vegetables from boats. They also made a tasty noodle soup called hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho. In 1885, the city had a modern railway. This track linked the city to Saigon. However, it was destroyed during the Vietnam War in the 1960s.

Mỹ Tho was a former city in southern Vietnam.

It sat in the Mekong Delta region. This area is often called the "rice basket of Vietnam." The city was part of the Tiền Giang province. It was named after the Mỹ Tho River.

The name actually means "beautiful tree" in chữ Hán. It served as a gateway to the delta. This made it a very important place for trade.

Many people lived in this busy area. Most people were from the Kinh ethnic group. Other groups like the Hoa, Cham, and Khmer also lived there. The city was a center for schools and new ideas. It was the first town in southern Vietnam to have a high school. This school opened in March 1879. Today, it is known as Nguyễn Đình Chiểu High School. Many other schools are named after famous Vietnamese poets and heroes.

Getting around the city was very interesting.

Most people used motorcycles, bicycles, or boats. In 1885, the city had a very modern railway. This track linked Mỹ Tho to Saigon. It was one of the most modern ways to travel in the world then. Sadly, the railway was destroyed during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Now, people also use National Route 1 to travel by road.

Life in the city was tied to the water.

Many tourists took boat rides on the Mỹ Tho River. You could visit four islands in the Tiền River. These are the Dragon, Tortoise, Phoenix, and Unicorn Islands. The city was also famous for floating markets. Here, people bought and sold things right from their boats. You could find many fresh fruits and vegetables there.

The local economy relied on many different things. People grew coconuts, bananas, and longans. They also had a large fishing fleet for seafood. The markets were huge places for trading dried fish. One famous food from here is hủ tiếu Mỹ Tho. This is a special type of rice noodle soup. The city was a major hub for all the goods in the region. It was a very lively place to visit.

Mỹ Tho was a former municipal city located in the Mekong Delta region of Southern Vietnam.

It was situated in the Tiền Giang province, though it is now part of the Đồng Tháp province. The city took its name from the Mỹ Tho River. In chữ Hán, the name literally translates to "beautiful tree." Because of its location, it served as the traditional gateway to the Mekong Delta. The delta is a vital region often called the "rice basket of Vietnam." This is because the area contributes more than half of the nation's total rice production.

The history of the city began in the 1680s. Chinese refugees founded the settlement while fleeing China. They were escaping the fall of the Southern Ming remnants to the Qing dynasty in 1683. By the 17th century, Mỹ Tho had grown into one of the largest commercial hubs in Southern Vietnam. During the 1860s, it became a major strategic location during the French colonial campaign. The French captured the city in 1862. This event marked the conclusion of the establishment of the French colony known as Cochinchina.

This victory began nearly a century of French colonial rule in Vietnam.

During the colonial period, the economy continued to prosper and attract new residents. Many immigrants arrived from mainland China, specifically from the Teochew and Minnan groups. The population grew steadily over time. In 2006, the population was approximately 169,000 people. By 2012, that number had increased to about 220,000. The majority of the people were from the Kinh ethnic group. However, other minority groups also lived there, including the Hoa, the Cham, and the Khmer people.

Transportation in Mỹ Tho was historically very advanced. In 1885, the city utilized the first railway route in Vietnam. This line linked Saigon to Mỹ Tho. At the time, it was one of the most modern transport means in the entire world. Unfortunately, this railway was destroyed during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Today, people use National Route 1 to travel by road. They also use motorcycles, bicycles, and boats. The Rạch Miễu Bridge connects Mỹ Tho to Bến Tre. For air travel, the nearest airport is Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Hồ Chí Minh City, located 71 km northeast.

The city was a major regional center for education and technology. It was actually the first town in southern Vietnam to feature a high school. The Collège de Mỹ Tho opened in March 1879. This institution is now known as Nguyễn Đình Chiểu High School. Many other schools in the area are named after famous Vietnamese poets or national heroes. These names include Nguyễn Trãi, Xuân Diệu, and Trần Hưng Đạo. Additionally, Tiền Giang College was promoted to Tiền Giang University in 2005.

Mỹ Tho's economy relied heavily on tourism, fishing, and agriculture. The region produces many items like coconuts, bananas, and longans. The city also manages a large ocean-going fishing fleet. This fleet provides much of the seafood found in the markets. One of the most famous markets is a major source for dried seafood, such as Kho Muc, which is dried squid. At night, the markets focus on sorting Mekong River fish. Catfish are particularly important for the wholesale markets in Hồ Chí Minh City.

Visitors often enjoy boat rides on the river to see floating markets or to visit the four islands in the Tiền River. These are the Dragon, Tortoise, Phoenix, and Unicorn Islands.

Administrative life in the city was organized into several parts. It was divided into 11 wards, labeled Ward 1 through Ward 10 and Ward Tân Long. There were also 6 communes: Đạo Thạnh, Mỹ Phong, Phước Thạnh, Tân Mỹ, Chánh Thới, Sơn Trung, and An Phước. The city was officially recognized as a grade II location on 7 October 2005. However, the city's status changed recently. On 1 July 2025, Mỹ Tho ceased to exist as a municipal city. This happened because Vietnam eliminated its district-level units.