Thủ Dầu Một

Thủ Dầu Một is a city in Vietnam.

It sits by the Saigon River. Many oil trees once grew near the water. This helped give the city its name.

Now, many people live and work there. You can see old temples and big churches. It is a place with a long story. The city was once a capital. It is part of a large area now.

Thủ Dầu Một is a place in Vietnam. It sits in the Southeast region. The city is on the left bank of the Saigon River.

It is near many other places. To the east is Tân Uyên. To the south is Thuận An. To the west is Củ Chi.

The name of the city has a special story. Long ago, many oil trees grew near the river. These trees are called Dipterocarpus. Some people say the name means "the only large oil tree." This name might refer to a tree near a fort.

Thủ Dầu Một was once a capital city. It was the capital of Bình Dương province. In 2012, it became a city. It grew very fast after 1997. Now, it is part of the Ho Chi Minh City area.

There are many things to see there. You can visit the Lady Thiên Hậu Pagoda. You can also see the Phú Cường Cathedral. The city has 14 wards, which are small parts of the city. It has about 373,105 people. The area is 118.91 square kilometers.

Thủ Dầu Một was a special place in the Southeast region of Vietnam. It sat on the left bank of the Saigon River. This river flows upstream from the city. The city covered an area of 118.91 square kilometers. It was home to 373,105 people in the year 2024.

The city sat in the central southwest of Bình Dương province. To the east, you would find Tân Uyên. To the west, the Saigon River led to Củ Chi district. To the south was Thuận An, and to the north was Bến Cát.

The name of this place has a very interesting story. Some researchers think the name comes from the Khmer language. Other authors believe it uses Vietnamese roots. One part of the name means to "keep" or "guard." This might refer to large oil trees called Dipterocarpus. In the past, many of these trees lined the port near a market. After many were cut down in the 1940s, the name changed. It could mean "the only large oil tree growing, located next to the fort."

History shows how the area changed over many years. In 1976, the National Assembly merged two provinces. They created a new province called Sông Bé. Thủ Dầu Một Town became the capital of that province. In 2007, it was called a third-class town. The government made it a city on May 2, 2012. By December 2017, it was a first-class city. Later, in June 2025, Bình Dương merged into Ho Chi Minh City. This meant the city ceased to exist as a municipal city.

There are many busy things happening in this area. The economy grew very fast after 1997. The region became a huge industrial hub. People are even developing a 4,200-hectare urban-tech park. This city is part of a large metropolitan area. This area includes places like Nhơn Trạch and Biên Hòa. Travelers can reach the area by bus or road from Ho Chi Minh City. They can also use the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. That airport is about 29 km south of the city.

Visitors can find many interesting sights to see. You might visit the Lady Thiên Hậu Pagoda. You could also see the Phú Cường Cathedral.

Other places include the Hội Khánh Temple and the Ông temple. There is a lacquer village called Tương Bình Hiệp. You can also find a ceramic village and the Phú Lợi prison. The city was divided into 14 wards. These included places like Phú Cường, Chánh Mỹ, and Tân An. Each ward was a small part of the city's life.

Thủ Dầu Một was a significant urban center in the Southeast region of Vietnam. It served as the capital of the former Bình Dương province. The city was located on the left bank of the Saigon River. This river flows upstream from the main city area. The city covered a total area of 118.91 square kilometers. As of 2024, the population reached 373,105 people.

The city's location was central to the southwest of Bình Dương province.

Geography placed the city near several important neighboring areas. To the east lay the district of Tân Uyên. To the south was the area of Thuận An. To the north sat the district of Bến Cát. The western border was defined by the Saigon River. This river separated the city from the Củ Chi district in Ho Chi Minh City. The city was organized into 14 distinct administrative wards. These included Phú Cường, Chánh Mỹ, Chánh Nghĩa, and Định Hòa. Other wards were Hiệp An, Hiệp Thành, Hòa Phú, Phú Hòa, Phú Lợi, Phú Mỹ, Phú Tân, Phú Thọ, Tân An, Tương Bình Hiệp, and Tân An.

The origin of the name Thủ Dầu Một is a subject of debate among researchers. Some scholars suggest the name comes from the Khmer language. Other authors argue it is a compound of Vietnamese language roots. One theory combines the word "thủ," meaning to keep or guard, with the number "một," meaning one. This likely refers to the Dipterocarpus, which are large oil-producing trees. In the past, many of these trees lined the port near a local market. After many were cut down in the 1940s, the name may have meant "the only large oil tree growing, located next to the fort." Another oral tradition suggests the name evolved from "Dầu Một Thành," meaning "Oil-Tree Fort Region."

History shows how the administrative status of the area changed over time. In 1976, the National Assembly of Vietnam merged two provinces. They combined Bình Dương and Bình Phước into the new Sông Bé province. Thủ Dầu Một Town became the provincial capital of Sông Bé. In 2007, the Ministry of Construction recognized it as a Grade-III urban area. On May 2, 2012, the government officially established Thủ Dầu Một City. By July 8, 2014, it reached Grade-II status. On December 6, 2017, it became a Grade-I city. However, a major change occurred on June 12, 2025. Bình Dương province merged into Ho Chi Minh City. Because of this merger, the city ceased to exist as a municipal city.

The economy of the region underwent rapid expansion after 1997. The area transformed into an important industrial hub for the region. Development includes a massive 4,200-hectare urban-tech park currently under development. The city was part of the larger Hồ Chí Minh City Metropolitan Area. This metropolitan system includes Nhơn Trạch, Tân An, and Biên Hòa. It also includes parts of Đồng Nai and Bình Dương provinces. This connectivity helped drive the industrial growth of the area.

Transportation links made the area accessible to many people. Travelers could reach the city via direct road and bus links from Ho Chi Minh City. For air travel, residents used the Tan Son Nhat International Airport. This airport is located approximately 29 km south of Thủ Dầu Một. The city also featured many cultural points of interest. Visitors could explore the Lady Thiên Hậu Pagoda or the Phú Cường Cathedral. Other sites included the Hội Khánh Temple and the Ông temple.

Local traditions were preserved through various specialized villages. The Tương Bình Hiệp lacquer village was a notable site. There was also a ceramic village located within the city limits. History was also visible in the Phú Lợi prison and various ancient houses. The Market of Thủ Dầu Một served as a central gathering place. These cultural sites helped define the identity of the city before its administrative merger. The various wards and villages worked together to form a complex urban system.