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

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