Thủ Dầu Một


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, Vietnam, located at around. The city has an area of 118.91 km², with a population of 373.105, and is 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 contiguous with Saigon River:

Administrative divisions

Thủ Dầu Một has 14 wards:
  1. Phú Cường
  2. Chánh Mỹ
  3. Chánh Nghĩa
  4. Định Hòa
  5. Hiệp An
  6. Hiệp Thành
  7. Hòa Phú
  8. Phú Hòa
  9. Phú Lợi
  10. Phú Mỹ
  11. Phú Tân
  12. Phú Thọ
  13. Tân An
  14. Tương Bình Hiệp

Etymology

In the past, some researchers have claimed that the name Thủ Dầu Một originates from Khmer language. However, other authors claim that the name Thủ Dầu Một is a compound of Vietnamese language roots, combining thủ, to "keep" or "guard", dầu referring to oil-producing trees of the genus Dipterocarpus, and the number một or "one". The toponym Dầu Một 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 Thủ Dầu Một 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 Xoài Tư and Quéo Ba.
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 Thủ Dầu Miệt, which literally means "Oil-Tree Fort Region"; later, miệt underwent a sound change to một.

History

In 1976, the National Assembly of Vietnam decided to merge Bình Dương Province and Bình Phước Province 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. It became a city in July 2012. There is a 4,200-ha urban-tech park under development. Thủ Dầu Một will be a modern city within the Hồ Chí Minh City Metropolitan Area.
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