Thủ Dầu Một () is a former city located in the Southeast region of Vietnam. It was the capital city of the former Bình Dương province (now merged to Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam, located at around . The city had an area of 118.91 km², with a population of 373,105 (as of 2024), and was located on the left bank of the Saigon River, upstream from the city.
Geography Thủ Dầu Một lies to the central southwest of Bình Dương province and is on the Saigon River. To the east is Tân Uyên To the west is Củ Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City by Saigon River To the south is Thuận An To the north is Bến Cát
Administrative divisions Thủ Dầu Một has 14 wards: Phú Cường Chánh Mỹ Chánh Nghĩa Định Hòa Hiệp An Hiệp Thành Hòa Phú Phú Hòa Phú Lợi Phú Mỹ Phú Tân Phú Thọ Tân An Tương Bình Hiệp
Etymology In the past, some researchers have claimed that the name originates from Khmer language. However, other authors claim that the name is a compound of Vietnamese language roots, combining , to "keep" or "guard", referring to oil-producing trees of the genus Dipterocarpus, and the number or "one". The toponym existed prior, in reference to large number of Dipterocarpus trees lining the port where there was a market in this area. In the 1940s, many of these were cut down; thus, the place name can be understood as "the only large oil tree growing, located next to the fort". Other toponyms in the area do follow similar tree + numeral structures, such as (literally "Mango" + "Four") and ("Mangifera reba" + "Three").
According to a third oral tradition, in a fort () in Bình An, there was a large oil tree on the hill. Thus the original name would have been , which literally means "Oil-Tree Fort Region"; later, underwent a sound change to .
History In 1976, the National Assembly of Vietnam decided to merge Bình Dương Province and Bình Phước Province (which comprised the former provinces of Bình Long and Phước Long) into a new province called Sông Bé. Thủ Dầu Một Town became the provincial capital of Sông Bé.
In 2007, the Ministry of Construction recognized Thủ Dầu Một as a Grade-III urban area.
On May 2, 2012, the government issued Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP on the establishment of Thủ Dầu Một City.
On July 8, 2014, Thủ Dầu Một was recognized as a Grade-II urban area, and on December 6, 2017, it officially became a Grade-I city under Bình Dương Province.
On June 12, 2025, Bình Dương province was merged to Ho Chi Minh City, along with Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province. Therefore, the city ceased its existence as a munipical city.
Economy Thủ Dầu Một has seen a rapid expansion and economic development since 1997, as the province has become an important industrial hub of the region. In January 2007, the district-level town then was officially recognized as a third-class town.Lên thành phố, người dân được hưởng rất nhiều lợi ích Quyết định số 115/QĐ-BXD ngày 23/1/2007 công nhận thành phố Thủ Dầu Một là đô thị loại III It became a city in July 2012. Bình Dương New City, a 4,200-ha urban-tech park, was developed. Thủ Dầu Một will be a modern city within the Hồ Chí Minh City Metropolitan Area (including Thủ Dầu Một, Nhơn Trạch, Tân An, Biên Hòa and parts of Đồng Nai and Bình Dương provinces).
It became a first-class city on 6 December 2017.
Transport Air travel is served by Ho Chi Minh City's Tan Son Nhat International Airport which is approximately 29 km south of Thủ Dầu Một. There are also direct road and bus links to the city from Ho Chi Minh City.
Points of interest
Hội Khánh Temple Thien Hau Temple of Phú Cường Đại Nam Văn Hiến Theme Park The Ông temple Bình Dương New City Bạch Đằng Riverside Park Thủ Dầu Một Market (also known as Phú Cường or Bình Dương Market) The lacquer village of Tương Bình Hiệp The ceramic village Prison of Phú Lợi Ancient house by the market of Thủ Dầu Một
References
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