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Can Tho
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Can Tho blends Mekong Delta culture, floating markets, riverside heritage, Khmer temples and island journeys in southern Vietnam for immersive city sightseeing.

River City in the Mekong Delta

Can Tho lies at the centre of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, where broad waterways, fertile gardens and busy trading routes shape everyday life. The city is the region’s principal urban hub, yet its identity remains closely tied to the river. At Ninh Kieu Wharf, promenades follow the Hau River and boats leave for floating markets, orchards and smaller waterways. Early mornings bring the most distinctive spectacle: wooden boats loaded with pineapples, coffee and noodles gathering on the Cai Rang River as traders conduct business from the water.
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Heritage and Local Culture

Beyond the waterfront, Can Tho reveals a layered cultural landscape. The Can Tho Museum introduces the delta’s archaeology, resistance history and agricultural traditions, while Ong Temple reflects the long-established Chinese-Vietnamese community of the commercial quarter. In nearby Binh Thuy, the elegant Binh Thuy Ancient House preserves the architectural character of a prosperous nineteenth-century riverside family. Khmer religious heritage is represented by Munirangsyaram Pagoda, whose colourful decoration and monastic setting add another dimension to the city’s cultural life.

Gardens, Canals and Contemporary Life

Can Tho is also a base for exploring the delta’s productive countryside. Narrow canals lead towards fruit gardens, rice-growing areas and quiet settlements where bridges, boats and tropical vegetation define the landscape. Local markets, street-food stalls and cafés give the city an unhurried rhythm after the morning excursions have ended. The result is a destination where regional commerce, river ecology and urban life remain visibly connected.

When is the best time to visit Can Tho?

Best: December–February · 31–33°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January (best)326
February (best)337
March3418
April3528
May35150
June34300
July33300
August33300
September32250
October32150
November3140
December (best)316

Getting to and around Can Tho

How to get there

Can Tho International Airport serves the city and the wider Mekong Delta, although flight schedules and route availability vary. Travellers can also reach Can Tho by long-distance coach from Ho Chi Minh City and other southern Vietnamese cities; road travel is often the most practical option for visitors arriving from the national transport network. Buses generally use terminals on the urban outskirts or in the broader city area, so onward travel by taxi or ride-hailing service may be needed. Can Tho is connected by road to nearby delta provinces, while bridges across the Hau River have improved access from across the region. There is no conventional passenger railway station in Can Tho.

Transportation

The central districts around Ninh Kieu Wharf are manageable on foot, but Can Tho is spread across a network of roads, waterways and suburban communities. Taxis and app-based motorbike or car services are useful for reaching the airport, bus terminals, Binh Thuy and canal-side attractions. Motorbike travel is common, although traffic requires particular care for visitors unfamiliar with Vietnamese road conditions. Boat trips are the usual way to reach Cai Rang floating market and smaller waterways; departures may be arranged through local operators or accommodation providers. Cycling can be pleasant on quieter rural lanes, but main roads and bridges may be busy.

Best attractions in Can Tho

Can Tho’s principal attractions show how closely urban life remains connected to the Mekong. The Cai Rang floating market is the defining excursion, with boats gathering on the river to trade fruit, vegetables, breakfast foods and drinks during the early morning. Back in the centre, Ninh Kieu Wharf provides a broad riverside promenade, evening views and access to boat trips, while the Can Tho Museum introduces regional archaeology, agriculture and wartime history. Ong Temple, with its Chinese-Vietnamese religious traditions, adds colour and historical depth to the central commercial district. Further away, Binh Thuy Ancient House offers a glimpse of nineteenth-century family life and southern architecture, and Munirangsyaram Pagoda represents the city’s Khmer heritage. Orchard visits, narrow canals and rural cycling routes extend sightseeing into the surrounding delta without losing sight of Can Tho’s agricultural and waterborne identity.

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Best landmarks in Can Tho

Ninh Kieu Wharf is Can Tho’s best-known civic landmark, occupying a prominent position beside the Hau River and symbolising the city’s reliance on inland waterways. Nearby Ong Temple, also called Ong Pagoda, preserves the religious presence of the Chinese-Vietnamese community and is notable for its richly decorated interior. In Binh Thuy, the Binh Thuy Ancient House is a finely preserved historic residence associated with a prosperous southern family; its architecture reflects local adaptation rather than a single imported style. Munirangsyaram Pagoda provides an important Khmer Buddhist landmark, with colourful ornament and a distinctive religious setting. The Can Tho Bridge, spanning the Hau River, represents the delta’s modern infrastructure and improved regional connections, while the riverfront itself expresses the continuity between the city’s commercial past and its present-day identity.

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Best restaurants in Can Tho

Can Tho’s food culture is rooted in the produce and waterways of the Mekong Delta. Breakfast often means hủ tiếu, a southern noodle soup served with pork, seafood or other local ingredients, while bánh xèo miền Tây arrives as a large, crisp savoury pancake filled with prawns, pork and bean sprouts and wrapped in herbs. Grilled river fish, freshwater prawns, snails, tropical fruit and rice-based dishes appear widely in local eateries. The central market area and streets around Ninh Kieu offer casual restaurants, coffee shops and food stalls, while countryside garden restaurants combine meals with orchard settings. Bún bò Huế and other dishes from across Vietnam are also common, reflecting the city’s regional importance. Menus and preparation styles vary, so food markets and modest family-run establishments often provide the clearest sense of everyday southern cooking.

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Best bars in Can Tho

Can Tho’s nightlife is sociable and comparatively relaxed rather than built around a large club scene. After sunset, Ninh Kieu Wharf and the riverside promenade attract residents and visitors for fresh air, illuminated views and informal gatherings. Cafés remain an important part of evening life, ranging from simple Vietnamese coffee shops to contemporary venues serving drinks and light food. Beer restaurants and small bars around the central districts provide casual places to meet, while larger hotels may have lounges with a quieter atmosphere. Some venues offer live music or karaoke, a popular form of social entertainment in Vietnam. Evening boat cruises occasionally combine river views with food or music, though the character of the experience varies. The city generally quietens earlier than Vietnam’s biggest metropolitan centres, and quieter streets outside the centre have limited late-night entertainment.

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Best nightclubs in Can Tho

Can Tho’s nightlife is sociable and comparatively relaxed rather than built around a large club scene. After sunset, Ninh Kieu Wharf and the riverside promenade attract residents and visitors for fresh air, illuminated views and informal gatherings. Cafés remain an important part of evening life, ranging from simple Vietnamese coffee shops to contemporary venues serving drinks and light food. Beer restaurants and small bars around the central districts provide casual places to meet, while larger hotels may have lounges with a quieter atmosphere. Some venues offer live music or karaoke, a popular form of social entertainment in Vietnam. Evening boat cruises occasionally combine river views with food or music, though the character of the experience varies. The city generally quietens earlier than Vietnam’s biggest metropolitan centres, and quieter streets outside the centre have limited late-night entertainment.

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Best shops in Can Tho

Shopping in Can Tho is closely tied to food, river commerce and everyday local exchange. Can Tho Market and the central market area offer fruit, vegetables, dried seafood, spices, snacks, household goods and practical souvenirs, while smaller neighbourhood markets reveal a less visitor-oriented side of the city. Around the floating-market routes, boats and riverside sellers trade pineapples, watermelons and other delta produce, although the wholesale activity is primarily a working market rather than a conventional craft bazaar. Visitors can look for packaged tropical fruit, rice products, coconut sweets, coffee and regional snacks that travel well. Shops and stalls near Ninh Kieu also carry textiles, lacquerware and general souvenirs, but quality varies. Polite bargaining may be appropriate in informal markets; supermarkets and established shops normally use marked prices.

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Can Tho essentials

Currency and Payment
Vietnam’s currency is the Vietnamese đồng, written as VND. Cards are accepted at many hotels, established restaurants, supermarkets and larger businesses in central Can Tho, while cash remains important at markets, small eateries, temples, boat services and family-run establishments. ATMs are available in the city, particularly around commercial areas, though international cards may incur bank or conversion charges. Carry modest amounts of đồng for small purchases and check banknotes carefully, as the denominations are high and can be confusing at first. Currency exchange is generally available through banks and authorised exchange providers.
Safety
Can Tho is generally navigable for visitors who take ordinary urban and travel precautions. Keep phones, wallets and bags secure in crowded markets, on busy roads and when travelling by motorbike or boat. Traffic can be difficult to judge, so use marked crossings where available and avoid stepping suddenly into moving vehicles. On river excursions, follow crew instructions, use provided life jackets and take care on wet decks and narrow piers. Heat, humidity and sudden rain can make outdoor sightseeing tiring; drink treated or bottled water, use sun protection and allow breaks during midday.
Emergency Situations
In Vietnam, police can be contacted on 113, fire and rescue services on 114, and medical emergency services on 115; 112 is the national search-and-rescue number. International visitors may find that English is not consistently available on emergency lines, so hotel staff, tour organisers or a Vietnamese-speaking companion can help communicate location and circumstances. Keep your passport details, travel insurance information and accommodation address accessible. For non-urgent medical needs, ask accommodation staff to identify a suitable clinic or hospital, and confirm whether facilities can communicate in a language you understand.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress respectfully at temples and pagodas, covering shoulders and knees where appropriate, and ask before photographing worshippers or religious ceremonies. Remove shoes when signs or local practice require it, and avoid touching sacred objects or climbing on historic structures. At markets, bargain politely when bargaining is customary, but do not treat vendors or residents as photographic subjects without permission. Keep voices moderate in religious spaces and dispose of rubbish responsibly, especially beside canals and rivers. Tipping is not an absolute requirement in Vietnam, although a modest amount may be appreciated for attentive service or organised boat assistance.
Local Tips
The most rewarding orientation combines an early river outing with later exploration on land: visit Cai Rang before the heat, then spend time around Ninh Kieu Wharf, the central market area and the city’s temples. Binh Thuy Ancient House is outside the immediate waterfront core, so plan transport rather than assuming every sight is walkable. Rural lanes around fruit gardens offer a quieter view of delta life than the main excursion routes, while small noodle shops and coffee stalls provide inexpensive ways to observe daily routines. Rain can arrive quickly, making a light waterproof layer useful year-round.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloXin chào[sin chow]
GoodbyeTạm biệt[tahm byet]
YesCó[koh]
NoKhông[kohng]
Please/You're welcomeVui lòng[vooi long]
Thank youCám ơn[kahm uhn]
Excuse me/SorryXin lỗi[sin loy]
How are you?Bạn khỏe không?[bahn kweh kohng]
Fine. And you?Tốt. Còn bạn?[toht. kohn bahn]
Do you speak English?Anh/Chị có nói tiếng Anh không?[ahn/chi koh noy ting ahn kohng]
I don't understandTôi không hiểu[toy kohng hye-u]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseCho tôi xem menu, vui lòng[cho toy sem menu, vooi long]
I don't eat meatTôi không ăn thịt[toy kohng an tit]
Cheers!Chúc sức khỏe![chook sook kweh]
I would like to pay, pleaseTôi muốn thanh toán, vui lòng[toy muhn thanh toan, vooi long]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Cứu![kew]
Go away!Đi đi![dee dee]
Call the Police!Gọi cảnh sát![goy keng saht]
Call a doctor!Gọi bác sĩ![goy bahk see]
I'm lostTôi lạc đường[toy lahk doo-ong]
I'm illTôi bị ốm[toy bee ohm]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Tôi muốn mua...[toy muhn mwa]
I'm just lookingTôi chỉ xem[toy chih sem]
How much is it?Bao nhiêu tiền?[bah-oo nyeu tee-en]
That's too expensiveĐắt quá[daht kwah]
Can you lower the price?Anh/Chị có thể giảm giá không?[ahn/chi koh te zahm zah kohng]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Bây giờ là mấy giờ?[bahy zoh la may zoh]
It's one o'clockBây giờ là một giờ[bahy zoh la moot zoh]
Half past (10)Rưỡi (10)[rwuh-ee (10)]
MorningBuổi sáng[bwoi sang]
AfternoonBuổi chiều[bwoi chieu]
EveningBuổi tối[bwoi toy]
YesterdayHôm qua[hohm kwa]
TodayHôm nay[hohm nai]
TomorrowNgày mai[ngai mai]
1Một[moot]
2Hai[high]
3Ba[bah]
4Bốn[bohn]
5Năm[nahm]
6Sáu[sow]
7Bảy[bahy]
8Tám[tahm]
9Chín[cheen]
10Mười[moo-ee]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Chỗ...ở đâu?[choh...uh daow]
What's the address?Địa chỉ là gì?[dih-ah chee la zee]
Can you show me (on the map)?Anh/Chị có thể chỉ cho tôi (trên bản đồ) không?[ahn/chi koh te chih cho toy (trern bahn doh) kohng]
When's the next (bus)?Khi nào là chuyến xe buýt kế tiếp?[khee nah-oh lah chwee-en se buh-eet keh tee-ep]
A ticket (to ....)Một vé (đến ....)[moot veh (den ....)]

History of Can Tho

Khmer Roots of the Delta

The wider Mekong Delta was long inhabited and cultivated by Khmer communities before Vietnamese settlement expanded southwards. Can Tho’s cultural landscape still reflects this history through Khmer religious traditions and the presence of Munirangsyaram Pagoda. The waterways that define the region were not merely natural features: they served as routes for agriculture, exchange and migration across a low-lying plain shaped by seasonal flooding. Over time, Vietnamese, Khmer and Chinese communities developed interconnected commercial and agricultural networks, creating the multicultural character that distinguishes the city and surrounding delta today.

Southern Settlement and Agricultural Growth

Vietnamese settlement intensified in the delta from the seventeenth century onwards, supported by canal construction, rice cultivation and river commerce. The area that became Can Tho grew through its position on waterways linking inland farming communities with larger markets. Fruit gardens, rice fields and fishing settlements developed alongside trading centres, while Chinese merchants contributed to commercial life in the expanding town. This economic foundation explains why Can Tho later emerged as the principal administrative and trading centre of the western Mekong Delta rather than simply a riverside village.

Colonial Administration and Urban Change

During French colonial rule, Can Tho became an important administrative centre in the western delta. Roads, public buildings, commercial premises and new systems of river and land transport altered the existing settlement pattern, linking the town more closely with other parts of Cochinchina. The colonial period also accelerated the export-oriented cultivation of rice and other agricultural products. Elements of this transformation survive in the city’s older houses and urban layout, although much of Can Tho’s historic character remains more strongly associated with commerce, waterways and local religious buildings than with a single monumental colonial quarter.

War and the Post-1975 Delta

Can Tho and the surrounding delta were drawn into the conflicts that affected southern Vietnam during the twentieth century. The region’s canals and dispersed settlements made it strategically important, while the city served as a significant administrative and military centre during the Republic of Vietnam period. After national reunification in 1975, Can Tho became part of a centrally managed economy before Vietnam’s Đổi Mới reforms from 1986 encouraged private enterprise and market activity. These changes helped revive river trade, small businesses and agricultural commerce across the delta.

A Regional Capital Today

Modern Can Tho has developed into the Mekong Delta’s main urban, educational and commercial hub, with universities, hospitals, government institutions and expanding transport links. Its growth has brought new roads, bridges and higher-density development, but the rivers and canals remain central to the city’s economy and identity. Cai Rang floating market continues a living tradition of waterborne trade, even as changing logistics and tourism reshape its operation. Contemporary Can Tho therefore combines regional modernisation with older patterns of orchard cultivation, river commerce and multicultural religious life.

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Evendo: Your Ultimate Travel Guide to Can Tho, Vietnam

Discover Can Tho like never before with Evendo, a 100% free app-based travel guide. Covering attractions, landmarks, restaurants, and more to enhance your visit.

  • Detailed information on attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities
  • Rich set of information including images, descriptions, local tips, maps, and contact details
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Evendo is your all-in-one travel guide to Can Tho, Vietnam. Explore attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, and activities effortlessly.

  • History of Can Tho and travel essentials
  • Curated local tips to experience Can Tho like a local
  • User-friendly navigation through the app and city
  • "Near me" feature to easily find nearby attractions
  • 100% free with no in-app purchases or additional costs

Discover the vibrant city of Can Tho, Vietnam with Evendo, your personal travel companion. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a seasoned traveler, Evendo ensures you make the most out of your trip with detailed information on all the best attractions, landmarks, shops, bars, nightclubs, restaurants, hotels, tours, experiences, and activities in Can Tho.

Imagine strolling through the famous Cai Rang Floating Market, exploring the serene beauty of Binh Thuy Ancient House, or enjoying a relaxing evening at Ninh Kieu Wharf. Evendo provides rich descriptions, captivating images, local tips, maps, and contact details for these iconic attractions and many more, making it easy for you to plan and organize your trip.

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