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Mỹ Tho | |
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| Mỹ Tho City Thành phố Mỹ Tho | |
 Mỹ Tho riverfront with cruise port in downtown  Cathedral Mỹ Tho  Mỹ Tho well in downtown  Thủ Khoa Huân statue | |
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  Mỹ Tho Location in Vietnam Show map of Vietnam Mỹ Tho Mỹ Tho (Southeast Asia) Show map of Southeast Asia Mỹ Tho Mỹ Tho (Asia) Show map of Asia | |
| Coordinates:10°21′N106°21′E / 10.350°N 106.350°E /10.350; 106.350 | |
| Country |  Vietnam |
| Province | Đồng Tháp (since 2025) Tiền Giang (formerly) |
| Region | Mekong Delta |
| Metro | Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area |
| Area | |
• Total | 31.49 sq mi (81.55 km2) |
| Population (2019) | |
• Total | 270,700 |
| • Density | 8,597/sq mi (3,319/km2) |
| Area codes | 073, 074 (nation) and +8473,+8474 (international) |
| Climate | Aw |
| Website | mytho |
Mỹ Tho (listenⓘ) is a former city in theĐồng Tháp province in theMekong Delta region ofSouthern Vietnam. It has a population of approximately 169,000 in 2006[1] and 220,000 in 2012.[2] It is the regional center of economics, education and technology.[3] The majorityethnic group is theKinh; minority groups include theHoa, theCham and theKhmer people. Boat rides on theMỹ Tho River are popular with tourists, and the city is known forhủ tiếu Mỹ Tho, a type ofrice noodles soup.[4]
Mỹ Tho ceased to exist as a municipal city on 1 July 2025, following theelimination of district level units in Vietnam.[5]
Mỹ Tho was founded in the 1680s by Chinese refugees fleeing China after the fall of remnants of theSouthern Ming to theQing dynasty in 1683. The city is named after theMỹ Tho River. Inchữ Hán, the name is given as美萩 (literally, beautiful tree).[6]
Due to its proximity toSaigon, Mỹ Tho was the traditional gateway to the Mekong Delta. In the 17th century, the city had become one of the biggest commercial hubs in today's Southern Vietnam.
In the 1860s, Mỹ Tho, along with Saigon, was a major strategic city during the French colonial campaign towards Vietnam. In 1862, France'scapture of Mỹ Tho is regarded as the conclusion to the establishment of the French colony ofCochinchina, a development that inaugurated nearly a century of French colonial dominance in Vietnam. During the colonization period, the economy continued to prosper, attracting more immigrants, mainly fromTeochew andMinnan of mainland China.
Mỹ Tho City is recognized as a grade II on October 7, 2005.[7]
Mỹ Tho is divided to 11 wards (calledWard 1 - Ward 10, andWard Tân Long) and 6 communes.[8]
6 communes:
Mỹ Tho is connected to the rest of the country byNational Route 1 andTiền River. Here, people mainly use motorcycles, bicycles, and boats for transportation. Mỹ Tho has the first railway route (about 70 kilometres (43 mi) long) in Vietnam which was one of the most modern transport means in the world linking Saigon and Mỹ Tho, put into use in 1885. However, it was destroyed in the 1960s during Vietnam War.[9]
By road, Mỹ Tho City is 70 kilometres (43 mi) fromVĩnh Long province, 70 kilometres (43 mi) fromHo Chi Minh City, regional center of Southern Vietnam, 103 kilometres (64 mi) fromCần Thơ, 179 kilometres (111 mi) fromChâu Đốc, 182 kilometres (113 mi) fromRạch Giá,[10] 132 kilometres (82 mi) fromLong Xuyên.[11] Mỹ Tho andBến Tre are connected byRạch Miễu Bridge.
By river, there are many short boat trips to various islands,Bến Tre, and floating markets[12] in the surrounding areas. It also has overnight long boats toChâu Đốc andLong Xuyên.
In terms of air travel, the nearest domestic and international airport is Hồ Chí Minh City'sTan Son Nhat International Airport which is located 71 km north east of Mỹ Tho.
| Climate data for Mỹ Tho | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 34.8 (94.6) | 35.1 (95.2) | 36.8 (98.2) | 38.2 (100.8) | 38.9 (102.0) | 36.6 (97.9) | 36.5 (97.7) | 35.8 (96.4) | 36.8 (98.2) | 35.5 (95.9) | 36.2 (97.2) | 34.5 (94.1) | 38.9 (102.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 30.2 (86.4) | 30.9 (87.6) | 32.2 (90.0) | 33.6 (92.5) | 33.3 (91.9) | 32.2 (90.0) | 31.7 (89.1) | 31.5 (88.7) | 31.3 (88.3) | 30.9 (87.6) | 30.8 (87.4) | 30.2 (86.4) | 31.6 (88.9) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 25.5 (77.9) | 26.1 (79.0) | 27.3 (81.1) | 28.6 (83.5) | 28.4 (83.1) | 27.7 (81.9) | 27.3 (81.1) | 27.1 (80.8) | 27.0 (80.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 26.7 (80.1) | 25.8 (78.4) | 27.1 (80.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.2 (72.0) | 22.8 (73.0) | 24.2 (75.6) | 25.4 (77.7) | 25.6 (78.1) | 25.0 (77.0) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.6 (76.3) | 24.3 (75.7) | 23.8 (74.8) | 22.6 (72.7) | 24.1 (75.4) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 14.9 (58.8) | 15.9 (60.6) | 15.7 (60.3) | 19.4 (66.9) | 21.5 (70.7) | 21.2 (70.2) | 19.6 (67.3) | 21.2 (70.2) | 21.2 (70.2) | 19.9 (67.8) | 17.6 (63.7) | 16.1 (61.0) | 14.9 (58.8) |
| Average rainfall mm (inches) | 8.1 (0.32) | 1.8 (0.07) | 6.6 (0.26) | 41.3 (1.63) | 149.7 (5.89) | 203.2 (8.00) | 189.2 (7.45) | 192.6 (7.58) | 231.3 (9.11) | 263.7 (10.38) | 95.4 (3.76) | 35.6 (1.40) | 1,419.7 (55.89) |
| Average rainy days | 1.6 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 4.4 | 14.9 | 18.7 | 20.0 | 20.2 | 20.3 | 19.6 | 10.5 | 5.8 | 137.5 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 79.2 | 78.4 | 78.4 | 78.0 | 81.4 | 83.1 | 83.7 | 84.3 | 85.0 | 85.3 | 83.2 | 81.4 | 82.2 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 244.1 | 249.3 | 284.9 | 261.5 | 209.8 | 180.7 | 188.5 | 187.9 | 165.4 | 170.5 | 198.5 | 198.0 | 2,531.1 |
| Source: Vietnam Institute for Building Science and Technology[13] | |||||||||||||
Vĩnh Tràng Temple,[14]Cao Dai Temple,[8] Dong Tam Snake Farm.[15] There are four islands in the Tien River between Mỹ Tho and Bến Tre: Dragon (Con Rong), Tortoise (Con Qui), Phoenix (Con Phung) and Unicorn (Con Lan) Islands.[16]
TheMekong Delta is considered to be the "rice basket of Vietnam", contributing more than half of the nation's rice production. Mỹ Tho is well known as floating markets, where people sell and buy things on the river, as well as Ben Tam Ngua and Mỹ Thuận market.
Mỹ Tho was the first town in southern Vietnam to have a high school. TheCollège de Mỹ Tho, opened in March 1879, is now called Nguyễn Đình Chiểu High School. It was one of the first schools Vietnam had, and even now is still known for its education quality among Southern schools.
Later, another school called "School for Gifted Students of Tien Giang" opened in Mỹ Tho city. Though the total area is very limited compared to other schools in the province, the quality of education there is usually considered one of the best. The curriculum they use is modified so that students usually learn more of their core subjects than in other schools. For instance, students from a Math class do all the required materials like any other classes, but more of Chemistry, Biology, and Physics because they are in the Natural Science block, and a lot more of Math. Preparation for national exams and entrance examination to the university are prioritized there.
Schools in Mỹ Tho are named after famous Vietnamese writers, poets, and national heroes such asNguyễn Trãi, Thu Khoa Huan is also known as Nguyen Huu Huan,Xuân Diệu,Lê Ngọc Hân,Nguyễn Đình Chiểu,Trần Hưng Đạo.
Tiền Giang College which was promoted to Tiền Giang University in 2005[17] is also located at Mỹ Tho.
Today the economy of Mỹ Tho is mainly based on tourism, fishing, and agricultural products such ascoconuts,bananas, andlongans.[18]
DuringWorld War II the FrenchVichy government interned foreign nationals in Mỹ Tho. In May 1945, the Japanese seized control of the camps fearing an allied attack.Foreign nationals were confined throughout the war. As the regional capital, Mỹ Tho is the main market dealing in all the produce from the region as well as fish and other seafood from Mỹ Tho's large ocean-going fishing fleet. The very large and exuberant market is one of South Vietnam's biggest sources fordried fish and other dried seafood products such as Kho Muc (dried squid). At night the market is dedicated to the dealing and sorting of Mekong River fish, particularlycatfish for Hồ Chí Minh City's wholesale markets. Produce, especially fruit and vegetables, is delivered by boat directly to markets. It is a popular starting point for tourists to take a boat trip on the Mekong River.
Mỹ Tho was the subject of "The Lesson", a chapter in a memoir byTobias Wolff,In Pharaoh's Army: Memories of the Lost War, describing the events of the 1968Tet Offensive there.[19]
In 2010, there are total 17 markets located in wards and commune in Mỹ Tho.[2]
10°21′N106°21′E / 10.350°N 106.350°E /10.350; 106.350
| 2,000,000 and more |
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| 1,000,000–1,999,999 | |
| 500,000–999,999 | |
| 200,000–499,999 | |
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