During the French colonial period Cao Lãnh found some supporters for the nationalist appeal of Trần Huy Liệu`s Indochina Times (Đông Pháp Thời Báo) founded in May 1923

Cao Lanh ( Mekong Delta)

.[2] Later, in initial resistance to the French in 1945, the Việt Nam Quốc Dân Đảng and others in the South formed into the Third Division of the popular army. Cao Lãnh was where the troops were reorganized into 23 units each of 500-600 men.[3]

Prior to 1975, Cao Lanh was the capital of the Kien Phong province, in the Mekong Delta region of South Vietnam. In February 1976, Kien Phong was merged with Sa Dec province to become Dong Thap province. Sa Dec became the capital city of the new province. Cao Lanh replaced Sa Dec as the capital since April 24, 1994, and became a city since October 2007.