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Centrally-governed city of Vietnam
Photo: User:Doron, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Can Tho (or Cantho; Vietnamese: Cần Thơ) is the biggest city of the Mekong Delta, in Vietnam with an estimated population of 1.6 million in 2019. The name comes from "cầm thi giang", river of poems. It is also referred to as "Tay Do" meaning "western capital". The city is famous for its floating markets, Buddhist pagodas, delicious food, fresh fruit, its large student population, and welcoming atmosphere.
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Ninh Kieu Park is a city park situated along the Can Tho River, stretching from the ferry terminal at Nguyen An Ninh Rd to the Ninh Kieu Hotel at the end of Hai Ba Trung Rd. Although the park sports some greenery, one of its most noticeable features is a public square surrounding a large statue of Ho Chi Minh. The other big attraction is Ninh Kieu Tourist Market, which houses souvenir vendors, cafes and restaurants. Just outside the market, you'll also find a ticket booth, selling boat trips up the river to places like Cai Rang Floating Market. The park is a busy place in the evenings, when locals gather to hang out, play badminton, breakdance, or sit and eat sweet bean chè. The Night Market on Nguyen An Ninh and Chau Van Liem streets is a good place to look for bargains, trà sữa milk tea, and a variety of street food. Plenty of restaurants dot Hai Ba Trung Street near the park, too, so you'll invariably find what you need if you look around.
An unusual institution in Southeast Asia, the Museum of Tarot is a small museum with what appears to be copies of almost every tarot deck ever published, along with various other artifacts related to western esotericism, including an impressionistic portrait of Aleister Crowley.
In the 18th century the quarter was named Tham Tướng after General Tham Tướng who fought the Siamese troops who were advancing from Ha Tien in 1772. The name of the place was changed after the Vietnam War to reflect the ideology of the new regime in power.
Khmer Pagoda; Munirangsyaram
A beautiful Khmer pagoda that gives Can Tho a touch of Cambodia, recalling the region's heritage as part of the Khmer Empire.
Just across from Ho Chi Minh's statue in Ninh Kieu Park is a little pagoda, constructed in the 1890s. Apparently a secret hideout for communist revolutionaries during the Vietnam War, the pagoda is now considered a national monument. It's worth seeing if only for its artistic value, with its intricate altars featuring carved wooden bas-reliefs.
One of the biggest and most active Buddhist temples with monks living in the premises. Visitors are welcome at any time of the day. There are fewer people during the afternoon, when it is rather hot, but it gets very lively often in the evenings.
Nice little church built by the French.
Around 8% of Vietnamese are Catholics, but as this church demonstrates, Protestant denominations are also present.
The canal system around Can Tho is a fascinating travel network, much more relaxed than the bustling roads. Hire a small rowboat (probably with a small motor as well) that can take you through the small canals that the larger tour boats cannot navigate. Tours from 06:00-14:00, including two floating markets and various sites along the canals, can be found for less than 250,000 dong per person. Ask around at the riverfront and make sure to negotiate the price. Some boat operators will ask for more money to visit the canals. The price should already include them.
Floating markets make for a lively scene, where many goods are exchanged, and can be easily visited by small boats for about USD3/hour per boat. You can take a tour from Ninh Kiều Pier, where the "boat ladies" are charmingly eager to welcome you aboard. Starting prices (Sep 2011) are about USD10-20 for a 3- or 7-hr tour with either one market plus canals, or several markets plus canals. It can be bargained down to USD7 and USD15. Pay attention as there is a pushy old lady selling boat tours pestering tourists at the riverside. Best to get your tour directly from a boat owner.
Non-packaged general boat tours of the floating market run frum An Binh market (Chợ An Bình) for 30K VND per person weekdays, 50K VND weekends and holidays, first boat at 5 am, last boat 5pm, but note the floating market only operates at dawn til early morning. Ticket from kiosk right in front of the market. Tour duration 35-40 minutes. (information from the An Bin market ticket kiosk).
If you want to go out of city, get out off the noise and enjoy natural air, the tour is designed for you. This trip provides a general view of countryside life style and packed full of fun with a lot to see, do, experience and totally worth to see. You have a chance to visit orchard islet, enjoy tropical fruits, natural wind, know how people make their living from farming and ranching, specially cooking.
Beautiful restaurant set in a French style villa with Hau River view from second floor, good food and so is the service.
Famous for its "nem" or spring roll, grilled pork rolled in rice sheet with vegetable, herbs and served with dipping sauce.
If you don't mind eating with a predominantly foreign clientele, this place is a must try. Apart from plenty of Vietnamese dishes, there are fairly authentic dishes form Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong and Macao. The food prices are reasonable, as is the beer. Local wines are available by the glass and service is snappy and friendly.
Offers a variety of foods including pizza, pasta, and beefsteak as well as local food. It also offers shakes, smoothies, coffee, and ice cream.
Hẻm Vit Nau Chao
Hot Pot Alley is home to about a dozen restaurants all offering the same specialty, Can Tho hot pot. Hot pots are prepared DIY on a small cooker on your table. As the soup gets cooking you add different vegetables, leaves, egg or rice noodles, tofu, and eggs. You only pay for the side dishes you use and you can order more of any dish you wish. You get free refills of the hot pot soup. Ask for "them nuoc" meaning more water. It might seem unusual to put in some of the leaves into the hot pot, but try and you will love it.
Nam Bộ
In a classic building facing the river, serves very tasty Vietnamese as well as some Western foods such as pizza and spaghetti. The service is nice and efficient, and a surprising variety of languages is spoken there, from English to French to Dutch and even some Japanese.
Sao Hôm
Serves a large palette of Vietnamese foods, and some Western food, too. The ambiance at night is special.
Good for couples.
Beautiful view over the city. The place is run by a young Vietnamese-German couple who moved to Can Tho from Singapore. They love music from around the world. A cosy place to relax.
Upscale club with many businessmen preferring this place to chill out on the weekend.
Nice red-black decor with banging sound system, but quite small, therefore more secure and chill than other clubs. Pretty and friendly go-go dancers.
The place to be on weekends. Spacious club, good lighting/sound system with laser to boot. Most fun happens from 23:00-02:00. Youthful and energetic, but can be quite a sketchy crowd.
Friendly and comfortable. Massage and spa in-house.
Newly opened mini-hotel with roof terrace
Young and friendly atmosphere. 23 compact rooms with double or single beds, private bathroom with shower, toilet, fan, air-con, phone. All rooms with windows. Fast free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Guests can relax on the roof terrace. Helpful and trustworthy staff, moderate prices for tours, no additional charge on bus bookings.
Very clean and friendly place. Rooms maintained and bed sheets changed daily. Enjoy meals any time you want at the nice sitting area by the big windows on each floor. The downside is distance from the centre and river (40 min on foot), but free bikes to ride around as well as motorbike rental. Staff are nice. Free Wi-Fi.
One of several cheap and very simple places on this road. Rooms can be a bit smelly as the kitchen aromas waft upstairs. If you have an allergy beware of the dust from fans. Wi-Fi works at reception, but not in the rooms (most notably the back ones). Avoid booking bus and tours here as it seems a lot more expensive.
Location is good. Relatively clean, but some rooms with older beds are said to have bed bugs. Rooms have LCD TV with Vietnamese channels. Air-con available with top up charge. Bath with bathtub. Hot water might not work at night because of their water system. Check for rooms with windows. No English speaking staff.
dorms with 4 or 10 beds. air.con. hot water. free breakfast free wifi.
double room with own bathroom
double room with own bathroom.
double room with own bathroom.
Friendly, welcoming staff, some of whom speak fairly good English. Well-situated, with much of downtown area (including bus station, jetty and markets) within walking distance. Rooms are comfortable and well-furnished: private bathroom with shower & toilet, fan, air-con, phone. Some rooms do not have windows; front rooms face the street and can be noisy. Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Breakfast is offered on top floor with a view over the city. They offer some daily tours to the floating markets and in the countryside (USD25-50) with a good guide.
Clean, with Wi-Fi and wired LAN in the rooms.
The Nam Bộ Boutique Hotel has one of the finest restaurants, l'Escale, in town. Quiet and overlooking the river.
Luxury resort on Cái Khế Island, including a swimming pool, a spa, a ballroom, and a rice barge for a scenic breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Surrounded by Vam Xang lush orchards.
Fine hotel with a pool and a rooftop bar, spa and a casino (not confirmed).
Trung Tâm Thương Mại Cái Khế (Cái Khế Commercial Centre)
A big market catering to businesses, including restaurants and hotels, as well as end users. The market stretches over two sides of the street, with the area facing the river selling perishable foodstuffs. On the other side of the market, you will find wholesalers of textiles and home products.
The main market of Can Tho used to be the open market on Ninh Kiều Pier. Today, the only original building left is the beautiful old market hall, now surrounded with a garden along the river. Now the Cái Khế markets further up the Can Tho River and the Xuan Khanh Market are the chief marketplaces.
Tham Tuong Market
A market predominantly for fresh food, fish, vegetables, and fruits. Other products for all daily needs are also available.
There are many supermarkets in Can Tho such as Coop Mart (Hoa Binh St), Metro Hung Loi (91B) (membership required), Maximark (opposite the bus station), and Vinatex Plaza in Xuan Khanh.
By plane
By bus
Many operators serve Can Tho from cities in the Mekong Delta up to the center and north of Vietnam. You may have a short stop in Ho Chi Minh City.
By motorbike, car, or taxi
By chauffeured car, allow about 1½ hours from Sóc Trăng, about 3 hours from Châu Đốc, about 3½ hours from Rạch Giá (85,000 dong, Apr 2012), less than 4 hours from Ho Chi Minh City (169 km, 100,000…
By boat
Apart from overnight boat cruises for tourists, there are no scheduled boat services to Can Tho.
It is easy to get around in Can Tho by motorbike or bicycle. Mai Linh and Happy Taxi are the two main taxi operators of the city. If you want to travel on the river, you can easily rent a boat service at Ninh Kieu Pier.
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Can Tho · International · VCA
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