Phú Mỹ is a district-level town (thị xã) of Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province in southeast Vietnam. As of 2018[update] the town had a population of 175,872.[1] The town covers an area of 333.84 km².
Phú Mỹ Thị xã Phú Mỹ | |
|---|---|
| Phú Mỹ Town | |
 Đại Tòng Lâm Temple | |
 Interactive map outlining Phú Mỹ | |
| Country | Vietnam |
| Region | South East |
| Province | Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu |
| Capital | Phú Mỹ |
| Area | |
| • Town (Class-4) | 128.90 sq mi (333.84 km2) |
| • Urban | 72.33 sq mi (187.33 km2) |
| Population (2019) | |
| • Town (Class-4) | 221,030 |
| • Density | 1,700/sq mi (660/km2) |
| • Urban | 155,114 |
| • Urban density | 2,100/sq mi (830/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
Phú Mỹ was formerly Tân Thành District, a rural district of Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province, with its district capital lying at Phú Mỹ township. In 2018, Tân Thành District was dissolved to form the new district-level town of Phú Mỹ.
The town seat lies at Phú Mỹ ward (former Phú Mỹ township) from which it takes its name. Phú Mỹ is a highly industrialized town with several industrial parks. It is the site of CS Wind's largest Vietnam wind tower factory.[2]
Phú Mỹ is home to deep water ports replacing Saigon Port when the latter relocated here. Phú Mỹ Power Plant Complex with a total capacity of 4,000 MW contributes nearly 35% of Vietnam's electricity.
History
Etymology
The town takes its name from the Phú Mỹ township, the capital of former Tân Thành District. The township was formally a commune and a village established in 1934 from the merger of Phú Thạnh and Mỹ Xuân, two villages founded in the area in the 19th century.
Before Vietnamese settlement
Archaeological evidence shows that modern humans had lived in Phú Mỹ in prehistory. In 2004, scientists conducted excavations in Gò Cây Me, an earthen hill in Tân Hòa Commune, and found relics of stony work tools, pottery and bones. The found relics were said to date back to the early metallic age circa 3500-3000 years before present.[3]
Between the 1st and 7th century, this area was controlled by the ancient Funan Kingdom. Later it was annexed by Chenla and administered as part of Chenla until the 17th century.
Vietnamese setttlement
Due to conflicts and disturbance caused by the Trịnh-Nguyễn War, climate extremes, failing crops and factionism, Vietnamese people from the Central region migrated south, settled on Southeast and Southern region today.[4][5] Many arrived in Mô Xoài (present-day Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu) and established the earliest villages in the area.
In 1698, Lord Nguyễn Phúc Chu launched a military expedition to Southern region led by Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh.
Port of Phú Mỹ
The Port of Phú Mỹ (pronounced foo-me) serves as the main deep water cargo port for Ho Chi Minh City, as well as for the resort town of Vũng Tàu.[6][7] The port is 65 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 45 km from Vũng Tàu city.[8][9]
Administrative divisions
The town is divided administratively into five wards and five communes:
References
