The district of Son My has the sad distinction of being famous due to the My Lai massacre, which took place in four of its hamlets on 16 March 1968. Under the pretence of collaborating with the Vietcong, the 11th American Infantry Brigade massacred 504 civilians, mainly the elderly, women and children, and set fire to their villages. Initially celebrated as a great victory, the operation was universally condemned as the details of the operation were gradually revealed by those involved.