Thoi Son - "Pearl" of Tien Giang river

Located on the poetic Tien River, formed around the 18th century, blessed by nature and rivers, Thoi Son Islet (in Thoi Son Commune, My Tho City, Tien Giang Province) is known as the "precious gem" of the Tien Giang garden land. From a pristine Thoi Son village in the past, Thoi Son Commune has now grown and developed, making an important contribution to the local socio -economic development.

IMPRINT OF MORE THAN 300 YEARS

According to the elders in Thoi Son land today, Thoi Son Islet is also known as Thoi Son Islet or Lan Islet. Together with Long Islet, Qui Islet and Phung Islet, it is known as the famous "four sacred animals" on Tien River. With a total area of about 1,200 hectares and a dense system of canals, Thoi Son Islet is blessed by nature with many beautiful natural landscapes and many fertile fruit gardens.

Tourists take a rowing boat to visit Thoi Son islet. Photo: Cao Lap Duc

According to many recorded documents, during the Nguyen Dynasty, the entire island belonged to Thoi Son village, Thuan Tri commune, Kien Hung district, Kien An prefecture, Dinh Tuong province. After the French invaded Vietnam in 1858 and occupied 3 provinces in the Southeast of Nam Ky in 1862, the French colonialists gradually abolished the name of Dinh Tuong province and the old administrative system of the Nguyen Dynasty; at the same time, they established Thanh Tra districts. Thoi Son village at this time belonged to Thanh Tra My Tho district. On January 5, 1876, Thanh Tra My Tho district was changed to Tham Bien My Tho district, from then on the village was changed to village.

In early 1900, all provincial administrative units in Indochina were unified and called “provinces”, including My Tho province in Cochinchina. Thoi Son village belonged to Thuan Tri commune, My Tho province. Until 1912, Thoi Son village belonged to Thuan Tri commune, Chau Thanh district, My Tho province.

After the August Revolution in 1945, the Southern Resistance Administrative Committee advocated abolishing the canton level and village units, and unified the name of the commune; at the same time, abolishing the name of the district and replacing it with the name of the district. In 1956, the Republic of Vietnam government also unified the name of the commune. At this time, Thoi Son was a commune in Chau Thanh district, My Tho province.

In 1957, the Republic of Vietnam government placed Thoi Son commune under Thuan Tri canton, Chau Thanh district, Dinh Tuong province. In 1960, Chau Thanh district was renamed Long Dinh district. At that time, Thoi Son commune belonged to Long Dinh district, Dinh Tuong province. In 1964, the Republic of Vietnam government divided Long Dinh district into Chau Thanh district and Long Dinh district. After 1965, the canton level was dissolved, and communes were directly under districts. At that time, Thoi Son commune returned to Chau Thanh district, Dinh Tuong province until 1975.

Explaining the name Thoi Son, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Dang, a veteran revolutionary cadre, former Deputy Secretary and Chairman of Thoi Son Commune People's Committee, the alluvial soil in this area is fertile, trees sprout and grow quickly, becoming a rich land. Standing on this side of the Tien River, looking across the green island, life is peaceful, prosperous and happy, so it was named Thai Son islet. Later, people read Thai Son as Thoi Son and the name Thoi Son islet exists until today.

In February 1976, Thoi Son commune belonged to Chau Thanh district, Tien Giang province. On September 26, 2009, the Government issued Resolution 28 on adjusting the administrative boundaries of Chau Thanh district and Cho Gao district to expand the administrative boundaries of My Tho city; adjusting the administrative boundaries of communes, establishing communes under My Tho city, Chau Thanh district, Cho Gao district, Tien Giang province. Accordingly, the entire natural area and population of Thoi Son commune, Chau Thanh district, was adjusted to My Tho city for management.

Over 300 years of formation and development, Thoi Son land has witnessed many heroic feats of our ancestors in the struggle against foreign invaders, protecting the independence of the nation. In particular, in the spring of 1785, the cloth hero Nguyen Hue fought a naval battle on the Rach Gam - Xoai Mut river, defeating 50,000 Siamese troops. In the two resistance wars against French and American invaders, Thoi Son was one of the revolutionary bases, marked by the people's hearts surrounding the Dong Tam base.

THOI SON TODAY

Taking advantage of the advantages of favorable natural conditions and promoting the revolutionary traditions of previous generations, today, under the leadership of the Party and the government, the people of Thoi Son commune have strived to compete, produce, and achieve many proud achievements. In 2019, with the spirit of solidarity and joining hands, Thoi Son successfully built a new rural commune. In the field of agriculture, the commune has focused on comprehensive rural development, promoting the application of scientific and technological achievements in production, cultivation, animal husbandry, etc., improving people's lives.

Tourists visit Thoi Son island by horse-drawn carriage.

Tourism is one of the commune's strengths. Thoi Son Tourist Area accounts for about 50% of tourists coming to Tien Giang and has been approved by the Government as one of the four national tourist areas in the Mekong Delta. Therefore, in recent times, Thoi Son Commune has made efforts to restore and develop tourist clusters, focusing on cultural behavior in tourism activities; continuing to propose the construction of infrastructure such as bridges, culverts, roads, lighting systems, mobilizing economic sectors to participate in investment, construction, business and development of shopping, dining, etc.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai, a resident of Thoi Son commune, said: “Thanks to Rach Mieu bridge, Thoi Son has changed day by day, no longer an oasis. Compared to previous years, Thoi Son has changed a lot, people's lives are also better thanks to tourism, as well as agricultural economy.”

Indeed, according to statistics in the first 6 months of 2023, the socio-economic situation in Thoi Son commune continues to achieve many encouraging results. Accordingly, thanks to the synchronous implementation of the above solutions, most areas of people's lives have been increasingly improved. The average income per capita of the commune currently reaches 60.08 million VND. The socio-economic development rate in 2023 reached 8.14% compared to the plan set for 2023. The work of building a commune that meets advanced new rural standards is being carried out according to the set schedule. Currently, the commune has achieved 13/19 criteria, the commune is determined to complete the remaining criteria in 2023.

According to the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, in the remaining months of 2023, Thoi Son commune will focus on comprehensive rural development, developing household economy associated with developing industries to improve people's lives. Restore and develop tourist clusters and spots, focusing on cultural behavior in tourism activities. Focus on propaganda, implementing and completing the remaining criteria for the commune to meet advanced new rural standards according to the plan and roadmap to achieve in 2023...

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