The base was located on Vinh Loc Island at the mouth of the Perfume River approximately 12 km northeast of Huế.

In February 1968 the U.S. Army's Task Force X-Ray assumed responsibility for base defense[2] before handing control back to the 1st Marines in early March following the end of the Battle of Huế.

[4] On 23 May 1972 during the Easter Offensive, the 7th Marine Battalion launched Operation Song Than 6-72, an amphibious assault from Tân Mỹ against the flanks of the People's Army of Vietnam (PAVN) force on the Street Without Joy.

[6] On 22 March 1975 in the face of the PAVN offensive, the decision was made to abandon Huế and withdraw all South Vietnamese forces to an enclave around Danang.

The plan was for the 147th Marine Brigade to withdraw to the Tân Mỹ Base where they would be picked up by Republic of Vietnam Navy ships.