Long Xuyên

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Long Xuyên began as a small outpost named Dong Xuyen, established by explorers in 1789 along the Tam Khe canal. A marketplace soon formed, called Long Xuyên, and by the 1860s the area was better known by that market name than the official outpost. From 1877, the city's administration expanded to oversee more neighborhoods and wards, though it was not formally designated a city until 1999. The city is located approximately 1,950 km south of Hanoi, 189 km from Ho Chi Minh City, and 45 km from the Cambodian border. Its population in April 2019 was 272,365, spread over an area of about 114.96 km². Long Xuyên is subdivided into 13 commune-level subdivisions, including the wards of Mỹ Bình, Mỹ Long, Mỹ Xuyên, Bình Khánh, Mỹ Phước, Đông Xuyên, Mỹ Quý, Mỹ Thạnh, Mỹ Thới, Bình Đức, Mỹ Hòa and the rural communes of Mỹ Hòa Hưng and Mỹ Khánh. Economically, Long Xuyên is a major conduit for agricultural products from the surrounding Quadrilateral Region, with jasmine rice and basa fish being the most well-known commodities. The proliferation of irrigation canals has boosted the economy but also poses threats to environmental protection and community safety. The city is home to An Giang University, the second largest university in the Mekong Delta with over 10,000 students enrolled in 2021, and several high schools, including Thoại Ngọc Hầu, formerly known as Long Xuyên high school, with over 2,000 students.

Reader's Guide

Long Xuyên's significance lies in its role as the capital of An Giang province and a key urban center in the rural Mekong Delta. Its history reflects a gradual evolution from a small 1789 outpost to a formal city in 1999, with its marketplace identity overshadowing the original settlement. The city's economy is deeply tied to agriculture, serving as a conduit for jasmine rice and basa fish, and its irrigation canals have boosted regional trade while raising environmental and safety concerns. Culturally, Long Xuyên is the founding place of the Hòa Hảo Buddhist sect and hosts a significant Khmer population due to its proximity to Cambodia. It also has Catholic communities, with the Long Xuyên Diocese celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2020 with 230,000 members, and is one of few cities with a Cao Dai temple. The Long Xuyên Floating Market preserves traditional rural life, and local cuisine features specialties like Bun Ca Long Xuyen, a broth made with snakehead fish and tamarind, eaten with rice noodles and herbs. Notable residents include former President Tôn Đức Thắng, whose birthday is celebrated in Mỹ Hòa Hưng (Tiger Island), and agronomist Võ Tòng Xuân, former rector of An Giang University. The city also hosts An Giang Football Club, playing in the V.League 2, and is connected by regular buses to other cities, with nearest airports at Can Tho International Airport and Rach Gia Airport, each 45 km from the city's center.

Did You Know?

• Long Xuyên was originally named Dong Xuyen when established as a small outpost in 1789 along the Tam Khe canal.
• Long Xuyên is the founding place of the Hòa Hảo Buddhist sect.
• The Long Xuyên Diocese celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2020 with 230,000 members.
• An Giang University, located in Long Xuyên, is the second largest university in the Mekong Delta with over 10,000 students in 2021.