The municipality's name came from the name of Saint Vincent Ferrer, whose winged statue was found inside a box entangled in fishing nets.

The fishermen consulted this matter to the friars in Villa Fernandina (now Vigan), who identified the person depicted by the statue.

Vigan was established by the Spanish colonizer, Juan de Salcedo on June 13, 1573, up to 1582, there were only 800 residents.

Upon Salcedo's return in 1574, he brought with them the Augustinian friars in order to teach Christianity to the inhabitants.

It is believed that the chapel is the first stone building that sees upon entering the San Vicente Central School from the main road.

Santa Catalina de Baba from Vigan especially during the months of June to October was experienced, due to the absence of dike or bridge.

Don Pedro de Leon was the first parish priest and he was believed as the initiator of the construction of the Church of San Vicente.

Poverty incidence of San Vicente Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] The municipality is known for its production of beautiful furniture made from narra and other tropical hardwoods, even from old wood previously used in wooden sugarcane crushers and old houses to make reproduction antiques.

San Vicente, belonging to the first congressional district of the province of Ilocos Sur, is governed by a mayor designated as its local chief executive and by a municipal council as its legislative body in accordance with the Local Government Code.