My Tho

The closest Mekong Delta city to Ho Chi Minh City, My Tho was the center of the ancient civilization of Funan from the 1st to 5th centuries AD, before the culture mysteriously disappeared—no one really knows the reason—and it wasn't until the 17th century that the modern city was established, by Chinese refugees fleeing Taiwan (then known as Formosa). During the Vietnam War, My Tho was one of the centers of operations for American and Australian troops. The largest battle in the Mekong Delta was fought in 1972 at Cai Lai, only 20 km (12 miles) outside the city. Today My Tho is known as a supplier of fruit and fish.