At first glance, Can Tho seems to be a bustling city, with a stream of commerce flowing continuously down the Hau River. But treat yourself to a room on its leafy banks, dine on its sun-ripened fruits and fresh river fish, glide on sampans through its sultry canals, and you’ll soon realise Can Tho’s big city facade is just half the story. The other half? Misty sunrises over the water, lazy afternoons swaying in a hammock, and balmy evenings announced by a chorus of insects. Under the Mekong Delta’s blazing blue skies, Can Tho leaves a vivid impression.
Tour the islets
Whether you go by bicycle or sampan, the islets of Can Tho are where you feel the real pulse of local life. Book a community-based tour to lunch with a local family, explore rice paper villages and fruit orchards, and enjoy a taste of pure Mekong Delta charm.
Wake up for the floating markets
It’s worth the early morning start to see Can Tho’s morning markets heaving with colourful boats and exotic produce. Cai Rang is the most famous in the area, but ask your local host about smaller floating markets where you can engage with the vendors.
Taste Hu Tieu on a boat
There’s nothing like a breakfast of steaming Hu Tieu noodles served on the water in the early morning. Sticky tapioca noodles, crunchy bean sprouts, and thinly sliced pork blend together in a tasty savoury broth. Slurp it up surrounded by the sounds of the market.
Binh Thuy ancestral house
Take a step back in time to see how Can Tho’s wealthy merchant families lived. Built in 1870, this brightly painted house has housed several generations of the Duong family, and is a fascinating blend of French and Asian architecture.
Relax by the riverside
Can Tho offers several enticing places to stay, where discerning travellers can enjoy a tropical escape by the water’s edge. Spoil yourself at the Azerai Can Tho, relax with heartfelt hospitality at Victoria Can Tho, or try a sustainable homestay experience at Mekong Rustic.
Can Tho has a tropical climate. Summers come with heavy rainfall, and most of the rest of the year is hot and dry. December and January are the coolest months. Rains fall regularly from July to November, and the heat is on from March to June.
The international airport in Can Tho is just 20 minutes outside of the city, with flights arriving from major hubs in Vietnam. Taking passengers on the four-hour journey from Ho Chi Minh City stop at the bus terminal four kilometres outside the town. It’s also possible to reach Can Tho via the Hau River, on a cruise from Ho Chi Minh City or Cambodia. Once in town, local taxis are readily available. Cycling is also an option on the islets and roads leading away from the city. Local ferries run regularly between the mainland and islets.
As the center of the Mekong Delta and the largest city in the region, Can Tho tourism brings you many unique and interesting experiences of the land of Tay Do with the people of the West and the simple but attractive river landscape.
Here are somethings to do and see in Can Tho:
Ong Temple: Built from 1894-1986, Ong Temple is an outstanding religious construction as an excellent example of Chinese temple architecture in South Vietnam.
Munirangsyaram Pagoda (Munirensay Pagoda): Originally built in 1946 for the local Khmer community, Munirangsyaram Pagoda (or also called Munirensay Pagoda) is a little gem in the city centre. This Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagoda features some fantastic ornamentation and a noticeable lack of Taoist spirit decorations, which are so commonplace in pagodas of the Vietnamese Mahayana style.
Pitu Kohsa Rangsay Pagoda: Located about 15 km from the center, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is not only a famous spiritual attraction in Can Tho but also a unique work of art in Tay Do land with inspired architecture of the Ly – Tran dynasty period.
Cai Rang Floating Market: Located about 6km away from Can Tho City center, this is the most famous and biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta featuring an unique culture of local people living along this mighty river. In 2016, Cai Rang Floating Market was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. The market was also elected as one of the most impressive markets in the world by UK’s Rough Guide.
Phong Dien Floating Market: Although not as popular and famous as Cai Rang, Phong Dien Floating Market still brings its own unique characteristics. Located around 20km southwest of Can Tho, you can get here by road. Less crowded, less touristy, more authentic may be what you are seeking for, so let pay a visit to Phong Dien floating market in your journey.
Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary: About 60km from Can Tho city centre, Bang Lang stork sanctuary is the largest bird playground in the western part. Covering an area of 19,400sqm, this is home to tens of thousands of storks.
There is a tall viewing platform to see the storks filling the branches. The best time of the day are from 6.00am – 7.00am when they fly off to search for food, and from 5.00pm-6.00pm when they return. It gives a peaceful scene to see in the rural area of Can Tho.
Taste Mekong Delta Specialties: Your trip to Can Tho will be a miss without tasting the indigenous specialties. There are many dishes that you should try while in Can Tho such as the Cai Rang grilled rolls made out of pork and served with pineapple, cucumber, bitter banana, star fruit, and thin rice paper. Other delicious dishes that also should not be missed, including bun ca (fish noodles), hu tieu Sa Dec (dry noodles), bun rieu (crab noodles), lau mam (fish sauce hot pot), banh xeo (Vietnamese pancakes), banh cong (small fried shrimp pancake) or even rat meat which sounds weird and gross but very normal here.
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