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Discover immediately 25 delicious dishes from Can Tho that have the potential to win over even the most discerning food lovers. Add these Can Tho specialties to your culinary notebook right away.
Specialty dishes create endless allure for every region. And the land of Tay Do - Can Tho - is no exception. Can Tho cuisine seamlessly blends the distinctive cooking style of the Mekong Delta with fresh, high-quality ingredients befitting its reputation as the land of 'white rice - clear water'. After indulging in Can Tho's specialty dishes, you'll find it hard to stop reminiscing about this gentle and charming land.
Wondering what to eat when visiting Can Tho? Which specialty products from Can Tho should you buy as gifts for your friends and family? Let's find out.
1. Can Tho Noodle Pizza
Noodle pizza is one of the must-try delicacies in Can Tho when visiting this land of the Mekong Delta. The noodles are fried to crispy perfection, immersed in hot oil until they turn golden and enticing. Each piece of pizza is fragrant and crispy, paired with fresh vegetables, shredded meat, and peanuts, creating a delicious and wonderful flavor.
Best Places to Enjoy Noodle Pizza:
- Cai Rang Market Noodle Pizza - My Hometown: No. 2 Yen Ha Street, Le Binh Ward, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City
- Six Hoai Noodle Pizza: 476 Lo Vong Cung Street, An Binh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
- Nine's Noodle Pizza Oven: 74c/14a, Quarter 7, An Binh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
2. Can Tho Fermented Fish Hot Pot
Can Tho fermented fish hot pot is a delicious dish with a special flavor that leaves a lasting impression on diners. This specialty dish from the Mekong Delta carries the rich flavors of Southern Vietnam and embodies the deep cultural significance of the region.
The main ingredient of Can Tho Fermented Fish Hot Pot is linh fish sauce (fermented for a long time or other types of fish such as snakehead fish, sardines), combined with various meats, fish, shrimp, crab, squid, octopus, and fresh vegetables. The hot pot is served with over 20 different types of vegetables such as morning glory, wild sunflower, water mimosa, banana blossom, bean sprouts, banana flower,...
Best Places to Enjoy Can Tho Fermented Fish Hot Pot:
- Huong Dua Fermented Fish Hot Pot Restaurant: Mac Thien Tich Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
- Ma Nam Fermented Fish Hot Pot Restaurant: 98 Huynh Cuong Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
- Da Ly Fermented Fish Hot Pot Restaurant: 89 3 Thang 2 Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
3. Beef Jerky - Soy Milk Salad at Military Zone 9 Museum
When you have the chance to visit the Western region, there are two dishes you cannot miss: beef jerky salad and soy milk at Military Zone 9 Museum. Located in the heart of the city, nestled in a corner at Military Zone 9 Museum on Hoa Binh Boulevard, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City.
What makes this place special is the traditional secret recipe in the dish that no one can replicate. The combination of beef jerky salad and soy milk creates a wonderful harmony that captivates everyone. It's no surprise that this location has always been crowded and beloved by people for many years.
4. Kim Tien Can Tho Grilled Meat Vermicelli
Grilled meat vermicelli has been a staple breakfast dish for Can Tho residents for a long time. But when it comes to the most delicious and long-standing grilled meat vermicelli, one cannot overlook Kim Tien Aunt Ut's grilled meat vermicelli restaurant. With over 40 years of history, this establishment still retains its distinctive flavor, taking people back to the sweet moments of yesteryears.
Kim Tien Can Tho Grilled Meat Vermicelli
- Address: 227 3 Thang 2 Street, Hung Loi Ward
5. Can Tho Cù Lao Hot Pot
Cù Lao hot pot, or simply 'cù lao,' is a distinctive hot pot dish of the Mekong Delta, known for the floating cù lao islands in the middle of rivers. The name of this dish also coincides with the name of the pot used for hot pot - the cù lao. The cù lao is made of aluminum or stainless steel, shaped like a basin with a cylindrical tube in the middle, used to hold red coal and heat the hot pot water around it.
The image of cù lao resembles a strip of floating land in the water, symbolizing the creativity of the local people. This is a dish imbued with local identity, skillfully combining various fresh ingredients and delicate spices.
Where to Enjoy Delicious Cù Lao Hot Pot in Can Tho?
- Nha Que Restaurant: Tran Binh Trong Street, An Phu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho
6. Can Tho Dried Shrimp Vermicelli
Among the countless types of vermicelli in the Mekong Delta, dried shrimp vermicelli is considered one of the most beloved dishes in Can Tho. The distinctive flavor of a bowl of dried shrimp vermicelli comes from stir-fried dried shrimp in fat, creating a tantalizing broth. Additionally, the bowl of vermicelli is added with a few pieces of pork skin, pork feet, and shrimp cake made from dried shrimp mixed with duck egg yolks, fried to a golden brown. Accompanying vegetables to balance the dish include thinly sliced morning glory, crispy and fresh, and vibrant green in color. Moreover, bean sprouts and fresh basil are also combined to create a wonderful flavor for this dried shrimp vermicelli dish, leaving every diner unable to resist.
Where to Find Delicious Dried Shrimp Vermicelli:
- Cai Rang Dried Shrimp Vermicelli Restaurant: Located on Ly Thuong Kiet Street - Le Binh - Cai Rang - Can Tho.
- Shrimp Vermicelli Restaurant: Located on DT 923 - An Binh Ward - Ninh Kieu District - Can Tho.
7. Can Tho Grilled Sticky Rice Banana
When mentioning the delicious specialties of Can Tho, the grilled sticky rice banana cannot be missed, topping the list of tempting snacks. Grilled sticky rice banana carries a uniquely delicious flavor, despite its simple preparation. The layers of sticky rice are steamed fragrantly, crisply wrapping around the sweet and juicy banana inside. Particularly, the grilled sticky rice banana is paired with rich coconut milk, bringing a fantastic flavor, perfect for satisfying hunger in the evenings or on rainy days.
Where to Enjoy Delicious Grilled Sticky Rice Banana in Can Tho:
- Grilled sweet potato, grilled banana: Ngo Quyen Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho
- End of De Tham Street - Ninh Kieu District - Can Tho
8. Can Tho Bần Hot Pot
Compared to the rich flavor of fermented fish hot pot, bần hot pot brings a light and distinctive taste. That's why when enjoying bần hot pot, few feel tired of it. For many, bần hot pot evokes childhood memories. Whenever the bần season arrives, people in the Mekong Delta pick bần fruits and water mimosa, along with corn kernels. These ingredients are complemented by water lily stems and star fruit, creating a wonderful mixture in bần hot pot. The refreshing taste of bần hot pot makes every meal special and memorable.
Where to Enjoy Delicious Bần Hot Pot in Can Tho:
- Ban Noodle Soup Can Tho Phu Sa - Con Au, Hung Phu Ward, Cai Rang District
9. Can Tho Steamed Rice Cake
Steamed rice cake is a characteristic snack of Can Tho, often carried and sold by women on the small alleys in the city. While in the North, steamed rice cake is often eaten with soy sauce or crab soup, and people in the Central region like to eat steamed rice cake with fermented fish sauce, the South has its own distinctive features.
Steamed rice cake is divided into two main types: savory and sweet. Savory steamed rice cake is often served with shrimp and coconut milk, creating a unique and interesting flavor. Sweet steamed rice cake has a distinctive green color from pandan leaves, creating an eye-catching and attractive appearance. Each type of steamed rice cake has its own special characteristic and is an indispensable part of Can Tho's culinary culture.
10. Can Tho Burnt Rice Crust with Dipping Sauce
Although it has only appeared recently, burnt rice crust with dipping sauce still maintains a special allure and is becoming increasingly popular. Restaurants specializing in this dish are growing in number. Despite its seemingly simple appearance, burnt rice crust with dipping sauce requires considerable skill in the cooking process. The cook has to evenly spread the rice around the pan, heating it slowly over a small flame until the rice gradually burns. The completed burnt rice crust has a crispy golden crust, neither too dry nor too soft. When eating, we dip the burnt rice crust in delicious dipping sauce, accompanied by various boiled vegetables, creating a wonderful and appetizing flavor.
Best Places to Enjoy Can Tho Burnt Rice Crust with Dipping Sauce:
- Aunt Ba's Burnt Rice Crust with Dipping Sauce: 28A, Mac Thien Tich Street, Xuan Khanh Ward, Ninh Kieu District
- Happy Burnt Rice Crust with Dipping Sauce: Ngo Van So Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City
- La Ca Quan Burnt Rice Crust with Dipping Sauce: 116/15A, Tran Van Kheo Street, Ninh Kieu District
11. Can Tho Grilled Pork Sausage
Leading the list of delicious dishes in Can Tho is the Can Tho Grilled Pork Sausage. Although it's the same grilled sausage made from pork and grilled over charcoal, the Can Tho Grilled Pork Sausage possesses an unusually delicious flavor. Each round sausage, skewered by small bamboo sticks, is greasy, golden, and fragrant due to skillful grilling. The Can Tho Grilled Pork Sausage can satisfy all the senses of food enthusiasts.
Best Places to Enjoy Can Tho Grilled Pork Sausage:
- 17 Hoa Binh Street, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Price: 50,000 VND – 110,000 VND
12. Can Tho's Delightful Bánh Cống
Bánh cống, a savory snack from Can Tho, is both delicious and affordable, leaving a lasting impression after every bite. Come evening, the streets are bustling with vendors selling bánh cống to eager customers. Made from flour, mung beans, and shrimp, crafting a delicious bánh cống requires meticulous steps from kneading the dough to frying the cakes. Dip a piece of bánh cống in sweet and sour fish sauce, accompanied by fresh green vegetables, and you have a truly satisfying treat.
Famous Spots to Buy Bánh Cống in Can Tho:
- 86/38 Ly Tu Trong Street, An Cu Ward, Ninh Kieu District
- Opening Hours: 9:00 AM – 9:30 PM
- Price: 10,000 VND – 30,000 VND
13. Can Tho's Traditional Bánh Tét Lá Cẩm
Bánh tét lá cẩm, a traditional dish of Can Tho, cannot be found in any other region. Its unique preparation involves using magenta plant leaves to wrap sticky rice, adding coconut milk, then filling it with seasoned pork and duck eggs. A bite of bánh tét lá cẩm reveals its chewy texture from the rice and delightful aroma from the salted duck eggs. This is a Can Tho specialty that travelers from near and far always want to buy as gifts when visiting.
Reliable Places to Buy Traditional Magenta Leaf Wrapped Sticky Rice Cake in Can Tho
- Near Cai Rang Floating Market, An Binh, Ninh Kieu
- Price: 55,000 VND - 100,000 VND per unit
14. Grilled Green Pepper Snails in Can Tho
A must-mention delicacy of Can Tho is the grilled green pepper snails, highly favored by the local youth for its irresistible flavor. The snails are soaked overnight in rice washing water to remove mud, thoroughly rinsed, then marinated with pepper seeds, fish sauce, and more... for the spices to permeate before being grilled over charcoal for a few minutes until ready to enjoy.
Best Spots for Grilled Green Pepper Snails in Can Tho
- 43 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh, Ninh Kieu
- Opening Hours: 4:00 PM - 10:00 PM
- Price: 50,000 VND - 350,000 VND
15. Rang Me-Flavored Three-Spotted Crab in Can Tho
Three-spotted crab is one of the famous rustic dishes of the riverine region. Once you've tasted this dish, you'll have more reasons to love and cherish the beautiful and hospitable land. The combination of sour tamarind, crunchy peanuts, and pungent coriander in the me-flavored three-spotted crab makes each piece rich and flavorful. Just one bite is enough to enchant anyone.
Best Places to Enjoy Rang Me-Flavored Three-Spotted Crab
- Dinh Tien Hoang Street, Thoi Binh Ward, Ninh Kieu
- Operating Hours: 5:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Price Range: 50,000 VND – 100,000 VND
16. Can Tho Fresh Spring Rolls
It's no coincidence that fresh spring rolls make it onto the list of must-try specialties in Can Tho. The reputation of these spring rolls is largely due to the divine dipping sauce. Whether it's hoisin sauce, fermented fish sauce, or chili garlic fish sauce, they're all specially prepared.
Best Fresh Spring Rolls Restaurant in Can Tho:
- 25A1 Residential Area 91B, An Binh Ward
- Price Range: 3,000 VND – 15,000 VND
17. Can Tho Braised Duck with Fermented Bean Curd
Braised duck with fermented bean curd is a famous specialty of Can Tho, listed among the top 100 culinary dishes and typical specialties of Vietnam by the Vietnam Record Organization. The essential ingredients that make this dish outstanding are white and red fermented bean curd, enhancing the rich flavor of the duck meat and broth. During cooking, taro and mushrooms are added to create a thick, sweet broth. Visiting Can Tho, you cannot miss the opportunity to taste this dish.
Best Place to Enjoy Braised Duck with Fermented Bean Curd in Can Tho:
- Alley 1, Ly Tu Trong Street, next to Can Tho University Area III
- Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
- Price Range: 45,000 VND – 220,000 VND
18. A Chay Dumpling Can Tho
Dumpling enthusiasts must visit A Chay Dumpling to broaden their palate. This is one of the longstanding dumpling eateries in Can Tho, offering dumplings with fresh shrimp filling and a flavorful broth enhanced with sweet vegetables, ensuring a delightful dining experience. You can enjoy the dumplings on their own or paired with noodles, both equally delicious. Additionally, the restaurant also serves crab soup, a favorite among diners.
A Chay Dumpling Address:
- 104 Le Lai, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho
- Opening Hours: 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Price Range: 8,000 VND - 15,000 VND
19. Vong Mat Banh Hoi Phong Dien
Phong Dien in Can Tho boasts the famous specialty of Vong Mat Banh Hoi, intricately crafted and served with grilled pork, roasted pork, various fresh herbs, spring onions, and a dipping sauce. Those who have tasted Phong Dien Banh Hoi will surely remember its delicate flavor, a true delicacy of the Can Tho region. The locals of Phong Dien also creatively invent unique dishes, with banh hoi less filled with duck meat as a prime example.
Location to Enjoy Phong Dien Vong Mat Banh Hoi:
- Nhon Ai, Ninh Kieu
- Operating Hours: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Price Range: 15,000 VND – 25,000 VND
20. Dry Sa Dec Rice Noodles
Travelers exploring the Mekong Delta region often make a stop in Sa Dec to savor the uniquely delicious dry rice noodles. The flavorful broth, combined with the white rice noodles and yellow sauce, creates a delicate harmony of flavors characteristic of the local culinary style.
Location to Enjoy Dry Sa Dec Rice Noodles:
- 12 Pham Ngu Lao, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho
- Opening Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Price Range: 20,000 VND – 30,000 VND
Top Spot for Delicious Coconut Bud Pancakes in Can Tho
When in the Mekong Delta, you'll have the chance to savor the unique flavor of coconut bud pancakes. The coconut bud, the topmost, youngest part of the coconut tree, is white, crispy, sweet, and refreshing. Combined with whole green beans, ground meat, shrimp, bean sprouts, and more, it creates a filling that gives the pancake a distinct, rich, fragrant, and creamy taste.
Best Place to Enjoy Tasty Pancakes in Can Tho:
- 45 Hoang Quoc Viet, An Binh, Ninh Kieu
- Opening Hours: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
22. Can Tho's Delightful Banh Tam Bi
When it comes to Can Tho cuisine, banh tam bi is a beloved dish. A plate of banh tam bi consists of white rice cakes topped with crispy pork skin, along with a bit of aromatic herbs, bean sprouts, pickled vegetables, and a ladle of rich, creamy coconut milk broth. Just one plate is enough to satisfy your morning hunger.
Best Place for Delicious Banh Tam Bi in Can Tho:
- 16 Ung Van Khiem Street, An Hoi, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho
- Operating Hours: 6:00 AM - 11:00 AM
23. Grilled Tube-Sleeve Goby in Can Tho
Among the delicious dishes of the Mekong Delta, grilled tube-sleeve goby is one that leaves a lasting impression on travelers lucky enough to taste it. The live tube-sleeve goby, after being cleaned and marinated, is grilled inside bamboo tubes over hot charcoal. When the tubes turn golden and collapse, the fish is perfectly cooked, thanks to the heat from the bamboo tubes. Direct grilling like this makes the tube-sleeve goby tender and sweet, especially as the juices from the bamboo tubes seep into each fish, enhancing its flavor. Grilled tube-sleeve goby pairs well with any dipping sauce, but a simple mixture of salt, chili, and lime is enough.
Best Place to Enjoy Grilled Tube-Sleeve Goby in Can Tho:
- Hoa Su Restaurant: Tourist Area, Ninh Kieu
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM
24. Grilled Mudfish Wrapped in Banana Leaves in Can Tho
Grilled mudfish wrapped in banana leaves is a traditional dish typical of the Southern region. After being cleaned, the fish is skewered on bamboo sticks, stuck into the ground, covered with straw, and set on fire. Mudfish has firm and sweet flesh, served with fragrant herbs, green bananas, cucumbers, water spinach, and dipped in tamarind fish sauce to create an unforgettable taste. You must try grilled mudfish wrapped in banana leaves over the charcoal fire in Can Tho to fully appreciate the rustic and affectionate essence of this land.
Best Places for Delicious Grilled Mudfish Wrapped in Banana Leaves in Can Tho:
- An: 15 – 19 – 21 Tran Van Hoai Street, Ward Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu
- Dong Xanh: 211 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Ninh Kieu
- Man: 184 Huynh Cuong Street, Ninh Kieu
- Grilled mudfish with lemongrass: 573 Tran Quang Dieu Street, Binh Thuy
25. Crazy Duckweed Hotpot with Linh Fish in Can Tho
Can Tho can be said to be the 'cradle' of unique fish hotpot dishes, and crazy duckweed hotpot with Linh fish is one of them. The unique deliciousness of this Can Tho specialty comes from the sweetness of young Linh fish, combined with the sourness and crispiness of duckweed. Linh fish hotpot is served with fresh vermicelli or hot rice, accompanied by salty fish sauce mixed with chili, undoubtedly making diners unable to resist.
Location to Enjoy Crazy Duckweed Hotpot with Linh Fish in Can Tho:
- Can Tho Fermented Fish Hotpot Restaurant: 162 Tran Ngoc Que Street, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho
- Open 24/7.
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Are you ready for a hungry stomach to sweep through the delicious flavors of Can Tho, rich in the taste of the Mekong Delta?
