seaport, southern Vietnam. It lies along the South China Sea at the head of a broad crescent bay, 112 miles (180 km) east-northeast of Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon). Originally a fishing village, it had resort facilities under the French colonial administration. It is one of Vietnam's most important fishing ports and centres for fish processing and marketing and is headquarters of the Vietnamese fishing cooperatives. There is also a considerable brick- and tile-making industry. An important activity is the manufacture of nuoc mam, the national condiment derived from certain types of fermented fish. Phan Thiet has hospitals and a commercial airport. Pop. (1989) 114,236.