For me, the town of My Tho isn't anything special, but its surroundings are definately worth a visit. My Tho's main tourist appeal, are the boat rides along the canals through the Mékong Delta's islands From the town you can get to Phoenix, Dragon, Turtle and Unicorn Islands, all of which boast a lush landscape of coconut trees, palms, banana and other fruit trees.
If you have a sweet tooth, you can visit a coconut sweets factory and sample various coconut-based treats. You can take a canoe trip along the canals that wind through the islands; a pretty, but very touristy outing! This is a great place if you're on a family holiday.
I spent a lot of time at the Mekong Delta during my trip to Vietnam. At the end of my stay in Mỹ Tho, I continued on to Hồ Chí Minh. After all the wonderful things I'd seen in the towns and cities I'd been to before coming here, I have to admit that I was quite disappointed with Mỹ Tho. The city itself is not very attractive, and it does not have anything of significant interest to offer. On the other hand, its location on the Mekong Delta and its proximity to Hồ Chí Minh City make it a good base from which to spend a day sailing along the river. And it was on just such a trip along the water that I got to visit the four islands named Dragon, Turtle, Unicorn and Phoenix. It makes for a very enjoyable excursion.
I recommend you only visit Mỹ Tho from Hô Chi Minh City, and only if you don't have much time to spend in the Mekong Delta area. If you do have more time, there are other cities I much preferred to Mỹ Tho.