It is a port on the right (western) bank of the Irrawaddy River, across and just south of Allanmyo,[1] between Pyay (Prome) and Magway.

The greater part of the district is wooded, and the ranges east and west are covered with forests.

During the 19th century, the chief products were rice, cotton, oil-seeds and tobacco; cutch was also very abundant, and the manufacture of the dye-stuff was carried on extensively.

[4] On the annexation of Pegu by the British in 1852–53, Thayet (then called Thayetmyo) was formed into a subdivision of Prome district; and in 1870 it was erected into a separate jurisdiction and placed under a deputy-commissioner.

[3] In the 1960s limestone quarries a few miles south of Thayet were developed to supply the town's cement factory.