The ancient Phu Tho Town we know today started as a Vietnamese village named Phu An during the reign of the 18th Hung King (approximately 334-258 BC). In 1890, King Thanh Thai renamed the village to Phu Tho. In 1903, the Governor-General of Indochina passed a decree elevating Phu Tho to town status, making it the administrative center of the province.
As of 2024, Phu Tho Town is the oldest of Vietnam’s 51 towns, with a history spanning 121 years. Located about 30 kilometers from Viet Tri City, the town serves as a gateway between the Red River Delta and the midland and mountainous regions.
During the 2021-2030 period, Phu Tho Town is planned to have a series of highways passing through it: the Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway (CT.05) with 6 lanes; the North-South Expressway, Western Section (CT.02), with 4 lanes from Tuyen Quang to Phu Tho and 6 lanes from Phu Tho to Ba Vi (Hanoi), and the Ho Chi Minh Road. The image shows the IC9 interchange connecting the Noi Bai – Lao Cai Expressway with the Tuyen Quang – Phu Tho Expressway.
Phu Tho Town’s economy has been growing steadily and robustly over the years. From 2010 to 2021, the average annual budget revenue growth was approximately 18.5%. In 2022, the total state budget revenue reached nearly 1,400 billion VND, equivalent to 267.7% of the plan, an 86.3% increase compared to 2021. This was the first year that Phu Tho Town’s state budget revenue exceeded 1,000 billion VND.
According to the Phu Tho Provincial Planning for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050, Phu Tho Province is set to develop numerous industrial parks and clusters by 2030, such as: Thanh Minh Industrial Cluster (0.3 km2), Phu Ho Industrial Park (0.8 km2), and most notably, Phu Ha Industrial Park, located next to the IC9 interchange with an area of 4.5 km2, almost equal to Hoan Kiem District (5.3 km2).
The BYD Vietnam Electronics Factory project (located in Phu Ha Industrial Park) is one of several projects showcasing advanced production technology, with an investment of up to 269 million USD (equivalent to 6,800 billion VND). It is also the province’s second-largest project in terms of attracting FDI, and its initial operation has created jobs for thousands of local residents.
Several new urban areas are also emerging in Phu Tho Town, including: Phu Ha Urban Residential Area (over 2 ha) and u Co New Urban Area (over 22 ha). The image shows the u Co New Urban Area, also known as u Co Park City. The urban area is designed in a European architectural style, with a large-scale utility chain and a well-invested infrastructure system, including a 2-hectare park.
The Thanh Minh New Urban Area project (located in Thanh Minh Commune and part of Thanh Vinh Ward, Phu Tho Town) is one of the province’s key projects. The Thanh Minh New Urban Area covers 92.3 ha, and nearly 52 ha have been cleared for construction. The total investment is approximately 4,390 billion VND. The image shows a map of the Thanh Minh New Urban Area project.
Dozens of provincial and district roads are currently under construction, with a total length of hundreds of kilometers, such as Hung Vuong Road (passing through Phu Ha Industrial Park), Truong Chinh Road (airport road), Dinh Tien Hoang Road (leading to Van Lung Commune).
By 2030, Phu Tho Town is planned to have 3 commercial centers, 6 supermarkets, and a network of 12 markets; along with a 1,000-ton Ngoc Thap inland waterway port on the Red River.
As a locality with a long-standing cultural heritage, Phu Tho Town is also associated with many festivals held at communal houses and villages. The Tru Mat Temple Festival is the most prominent festival in Phu Tho Town. Tru Mat Temple – Thang Son Pagoda was built in the Canh Ngo year of 970 during the reign of King Dinh Tien Hoang. After several renovations, in 1999, Tru Mat Temple – Thang Son Pagoda was recognized as a National Historical and Cultural Relic.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has approved the Phu Tho Provincial Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050. Accordingly, by 2030, Phu Tho Town will
