Mỹ Tho

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.