If it is in your control, stay with SQL Server! If it isn’t, this is how you can do it.

When you install the .NET Connector for MySQL, a class library called MySql.Data is installed. You can add a reference to it from the Add Reference dialog. This gives you a new set of classes for accessing a MySQL database. This is what a connection to a database can look like:

Dim ConnectionString As String = "Server=XXX;Port=3306;Database=XXX;Uid=XXX;Pwd=XXX"
Using Cn As New MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection(ConnectionString)
  Cn.Open()

  Console.WriteLine(Cn.State.ToString())

  Cn.Close()
End Using

If you know you ADO.NET, the rest should be a stroll in the park. This code lists keywords in MySQL:

Dim ConnectionString As String = "Server=XXX;Port=3306;Database=mysql;Uid=XXX;Pwd=XXX"
Using Cn As New MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlConnection(ConnectionString)
  Cn.Open()

  Using Cmd As New MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlCommand("SELECT * FROM help_keyword", Cn)
    Dim R As MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlDataReader = Cmd.ExecuteReader()
    While R.Read()
      Console.WriteLine(R.GetString(1))
    End While
    R.Close()
  End Using

  Cn.Close()
End Using