Can Tho, Vietnam: travel guide
Floating markets and canal life at the heart of the Mekong Delta
Located in the heart of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is famous for its intricate network of canals and vibrant floating markets, such as Cai Rang. It offers visitors a glimpse into the traditional, river-based lifestyle of Southern Vietnam.
About Can Tho
Can Tho is the main city of the Mekong Delta, a flat green landscape of rivers, canals and orchards in southern Vietnam. Life here moves on the water, and the quickest way to understand it is to go out on a boat at dawn.
The Cai Rang Floating Market is the best known, where traders sell fruit and vegetables from the decks of their boats, and Phong Dien offers a smaller, quieter version. In town you can stroll the Ninh Kieu riverfront, step inside the old merchant house of Binh Thuy and visit Khmer pagodas. Fresh fruit, river fish and rice noodles feature heavily on menus.
Can Tho suits those who enjoy slow travel and food. It can be visited year-round, and the dry season from about December to April is generally the most comfortable.
- Country
- Vietnam
- Currency
- VND
- Time zone
- Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
- Nearest airport
- VCA
- Typical trip
- 1-2 days
Last updated
Top places to visit in Can Tho
Cai Rang Floating Market
floating market · 4.7 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate
The largest and most authentic floating market in the Mekong Delta — hundreds of wooden boats loaded with tropical produce trading in river mist. Peaks 05:30–08:00. Hire a sampan from Ninh Kieu pier the evening before (round trip ~150,000…
Ninh Kieu Riverfront Promenade
Cultural · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · free entry
The beating heart of Can Tho, a busy riverside promenade lined with cafés, seafood restaurants, and a famous Ho Chi Minh statue. Boat trips to the floating markets depart from the pier here at 4–5 AM.
Binh Thuy Ancient House
Heritage · 4.5 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate
A remarkably well-preserved 19th-century aristocratic French-Vietnamese merchant home in Binh Thuy district. Featured in the 1992 film The Lover, the house retains its original porcelain, lacquerware, and period furniture.
Phong Dien Floating Market
Market · 4.4 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate
A smaller, more intimate floating market 20 km from Can Tho where retail (not wholesale) traders sell direct to individual buyers from their boats. Far fewer tour groups than Cai Rang — a more authentic Mekong experience.
Can Tho Museum
Museum · 4.1 rating · about 1.3 h · free entry
A modern museum tracing the history of the Mekong Delta through three floors of exhibits on the Khmer, Cham, and Vietnamese people who shaped the region, plus a section on the American War.
Bang Lang Stork Garden
Wildlife · about 1 h · entry 20,000 ₫ (≈ ₹74), 20,000 VND. No published Vietnamese/foreigner split.
Wetland sanctuary with large seasonal stork colonies.
Ong Pagoda
Temple · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
19th-century Chinese-Cantonese assembly-hall temple in central Can Tho.
Munirangsyaram Pagoda
Temple · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagoda, a center of the local Khmer community.
Things to do
- Can Tho Mekong Countryside Cycling & Boat Tour Outdoor · 4 h · from VND 331,000 per person
- Cai Rang Floating Market at Dawn Cultural · 4 h · from VND 248,000 per person
- Phong Dien Floating Market Sunrise Boat Tour Cultural · 4 h · from VND 350,000 per person
- Binh Thuy Ancient House Heritage Tour Cultural · 1.5 h · from VND 100,000 per person
Day trips and tours
- Cai Rang Floating Market + Mekong Orchard & Canal Tour 7 h · from VND 441,000
Where to stay in Can Tho
- Ninh Kieu Riverside about VND 800 per night
A lively waterfront strip of restaurants, night market stalls and riverside hotels with direct views over the Hau River. Floating market boat tours depart from Ninh Kieu pier at 05:00.
Hotels
- Azerai Can Tho 5-star · VND 5,500,000 to VND 15,000,000 per night
- Victoria Can Tho Resort 5-star · VND 3,500,000 to VND 12,000,000 per night
- Nam Bo Boutique Hotel 3-star · VND 1,200,000 to VND 2,800,000 per night
- Nguyen Shack Can Tho 3-star · VND 500,000 to VND 1,100,000 per night
- Sheraton Can Tho 5-star · VND 1,500,000 to VND 3,200,000 per night
- Mekong Rustic Can Tho 3-star · VND 450,000 to VND 1,000,000 per night
Where to eat
- Mekong Restaurant Vietnamese · about VND 280,000 per person
- Nam Bo Café & Restaurant vietnamese, cafe · about VND 180,000 per person
- Sao Hom Restaurant vietnamese, seafood · about VND 220,000 per person
- Quan Com 41 Nguyen An Ninh vietnamese, local_specialties · about VND 80,000 per person
- Spirito Restaurant international, vietnamese · about VND 220,000 per person
Getting to Can Tho
Airport: Can Tho (VCA)
How visitors arrive in Can Tho
- Bus from Ho Chi Minh City's Western Bus Station By road from Ho Chi Minh City · most visitors
Intercity buses from Mien Tay station; the guide treats bus as the main option. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Flight into Can Tho airport By air from Hanoi · possible
Small international airport with limited domestic routes such as Hanoi and Phu Quoc. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Taxi in Can Tho
Taxis wait directly outside the arrivals exit at Can Tho airport. Stick to known companies such as Mai Linh or Vinasun, and make sure the meter is running before you set off. Source: localvietnam.com
From the bus terminal to the centre
- Coach from Ho Chi Minh City unconfirmed
Phuong Trang, Thanh Buoi and Mai Linh run coaches from Ho Chi Minh City's Western Bus Station. Phuong Trang and Thanh Buoi tickets include a shuttle to your hotel. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Check your minibus ticket and confirm that the person guiding you to a shuttle is operator staff, not a taxi driver. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Motorbike Rental useful for some trips
Getting around Can Tho by motorbike or bicycle is described as easy, and boats for river trips can be rented at Ninh Kieu Pier.
- Taxi
Mai Linh and Happy Taxi are named as main taxi operators in Can Tho; for floating markets, boats are rented at Ninh Kieu Pier.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Floating Market Boat Overcharging
Ninh Kieu Pier
Informal boat operators near the pier quote low rates for floating market tours, then demand double at the end or add "waiting fees" and "petrol surcharges".
How to avoid it: Book the boat through your guesthouse or a licensed operator. Agree on the full price, duration, and any fuel costs before boarding.
Best time to visit Can Tho
- Jan 32°C
- Feb 35°C
- Mar 37°C
- Apr 37°C
- May 33°C
- Jun 32°C
- Jul 31°C
- Aug 31°C
- Sep 31°C
- Oct 31°C
- Nov 30°C
- Dec 30°C
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Frequently asked questions about Can Tho
- How many days do you need in Can Tho?
- A typical trip to Can Tho is 1-2 days.
- What are the top-rated places to visit in Can Tho?
- The highest-rated places in our Can Tho guide are Cai Rang Floating Market, Binh Thuy Ancient House, Phong Dien Floating Market, Ninh Kieu Riverfront Promenade, Can Tho Museum.
- Where should I stay in Can Tho?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Can Tho: Ninh Kieu Riverside.
- How do I get around Can Tho?
- Ways to get around Can Tho covered in our guide: Motorbike rental, Taxi, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Can Tho?
- Scams reported to us for Can Tho include Floating Market Boat Overcharging. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Can Tho?
- Average daytime highs in Can Tho run from 30°C in Nov to 37°C in Apr.
- Which airport is nearest to Can Tho?
- The nearest airport to Can Tho has the code VCA.