Hu廕?originally rose to prominence as the capital of the Nguy廙?? Lords, a feudal dynasty which dominated much of southern Vietnam from the 17th to the 19th century. In 1775 when Tr廙??h S璽m captured it, it was known as Ph繳 Xu璽n. In 1802, Nguy廙?? Ph繳c ?nh (later Emperor Gia Long) succeeded in establishing his control over the whole of Vietnam, thereby making Hu廕?the national capital.

Hu廕?was the national capital until 1945, when Emperor B廕υ ?廕【 abdicated and a communist government was established in H? N廙?? (Hanoi), in the north. While B廕υ ?廕【 was briefly proclaimed "Head of State" with the help of the returning French colonialists in 1949, his new capital was S?i G簷n (Saigon), in the south.