Buzz
When mentioning Cà Mau, Vietnamese people know it as the southernmost land, the very tip of the nation. Cà Mau is a region of waterlogged swamps, famous for its intricate network of waterways and canals, along with vast, lush mangrove forests of the U Minh range, bearing the raw beauty of wilderness. Traveling to Cà Mau is answering the call of wild nature, unveiling a marvelous experience amidst the simple yet majestic landscapes.
Unmissable Cà Mau Travel Guide (Photo by ST)
Overview of Cà Mau Tourism
Being the last province of the S-shaped strip of land, with a narrow width and surrounded by sea on three sides: to the east by the East Sea, and to the west and south by the Gulf of Thailand. This is also the reason why Cà Mau has the longest coastline, stretching nearly 254 km. It can be said that thanks to this strategic location, Cà Mau serves as a vital gateway for Vietnam to engage in international exchange via maritime routes.
Captivating imagery of Cà Mau's coastal tourism
Located in the Mekong Delta region, the climate here naturally exhibits the characteristics of a tropical monsoon climate with two distinct seasons: the rainy season (from May to November) and the dry season (from December to April). However, the temperature in this area is higher than in other southwestern provinces, with an average temperature of 26.5°C throughout the year and intense sunlight. Therefore, when traveling to Cà Mau, tourists should prepare carefully with sun-protective clothing such as hats, shirts, sunglasses, etc., to safeguard their health from the harmful effects of solar radiation.
Dazzling twilight over the open sea in Cà Mau, Vietnam
Getting Around
For travelers from provinces in the Central to Northern regions, the journey to Cà Mau by car can be quite challenging and time-consuming. Hence, the best solution is for travelers to take a flight to Can Tho Airport and then travel by sleeper bus to Cà Mau, which costs around 100 – 150k VND. As for travelers from neighboring provinces in the southern region, they can opt for sleeper buses or even motorbikes, which not only saves transportation costs but also offers opportunities to enjoy the scenic views along the way.
Best Time to Visit Cà Mau
Although Cà Mau has plenty of sunshine, it does not get excessively hot. On the contrary, the climate is relatively fresh and cool due to the sea breezes, making it suitable for visits throughout the year. However, the best time to visit is during the dry season, from around November to April, when the landscape and ecosystem are particularly remarkable.
Boats are the primary mode of transportation in the rivers and waterways of Cà Mau (Photo ST)
Where to Go When Visiting Cà Mau?
Floating Market
Floating markets are a distinctive cultural feature of the Mekong Delta region, including Cà Mau. Therefore, when visiting here, don't forget to explore this unique floating market area. The Cà Mau floating market takes place on the Gành Hào River, located in Ward 8 of the city center. This is where three rivers converge: the Tiền River, the Hậu River, and the Trẹm River, making it an ideal and convenient location for river trade. The main products are agricultural produce and garden vegetables. You will experience the excitement of sitting on a rocking boat drifting along the lively waterways, witnessing and participating in the trading activities among the boats and barges at the floating market.
Boats filled with fruits and vegetables sailing upstream between river docks (Photo ST)
Coming to Cà Mau, my homeland, admiring the river markets of the Mekong Delta (Photo ST)
Silver Stone Island
Located 50 kilometers upstream from Cà Mau City, in Khánh Bình Tây commune, Trần Văn Thời district, Cà Mau province. This is the common name for a cluster of large and small rocks spread over an area of 6.43 hectares. Estimated to have formed 180 million years ago, this is a small island close to the coast, connected by a bridge, featuring a primitive appearance with numerous unique and bizarre rock formations created by nature.
The bizarre gigantic rocks of Cà Mau, Vietnam (Photo ST)
U Minh Ha National Park
Located within the U Minh forest system covering an area of 8,000 hectares, this forest is recognized as an ancient forest, a large biosphere reserve of the Mekong Delta region, making it a shared home to numerous rare and precious plant and animal species. With its unique flooded forest ecosystem and melaleuca forest on peat soil, U Minh Ha plays an important role in protecting and restoring landscape, ecological environment, and biodiversity values.
Coming to Cà Mau, tourists witness the shade of mangrove trees casting down onto the water surface (Photo ST)
The National Park comprises three main zones: the ecological preservation zone, the ecological utilization zone, and the service zone. Visiting U Minh Ha means immersing oneself in a lush green wilderness shaded by mangroves. Amidst the vast and mysterious scenery, tourists can take a boat ride along small canals, marvel at the landscape, and enjoy the lively sounds of birds.
The dense green forests of Cà Mau's cape tourism (Photo St)
Ngọc Hiển Bird Sanctuary
Ngọc Hiển Bird Sanctuary covers an area of 130 hectares, known as one of the largest natural bird sanctuaries in Vietnam. Situated along the Bảy Háp River, it boasts a lush and vibrant vegetation year-round. This sanctuary is home to many bird species, some of which are listed in the Red Book. Every evening, as the crimson sunset fills the sky, thousands of birds flock back, creating a lively symphony in the air.
Explore the diverse wildlife of Cà Mau's cape tourism
Flocks of birds soaring create a vivid painting
Cà Mau Cape, Vietnam
Cà Mau Cape – the southernmost point of the country, where the GPS coordinates 0001 mark the destination sought by many travel enthusiasts. Located about 100 km from Cà Mau city, reaching the Cape requires a 3-hour high-speed boat ride from the seaside pier. Here, visitors can visit the national coordinate milestone, admire the sea and forests, explore the simulated resistance village, and marvel at the symbol of Cà Mau Cape.
Cuisine in Cà Mau
Roasted Field Mouse with Chili
This is a specialty beloved by the people of Cà Mau. From field mice meat, one can prepare various dishes, but the most aromatic and enticing is roasted field mouse with chili. The fragrant aroma of lemongrass, the spicy taste of chili, and the rich flavor make it unforgettable. After cleaning and seasoning the field mouse meat, it is evenly fried until golden brown and fragrant. This cooking method is quite simple, and tourists can learn to make it at home.
The golden-brown roasted mouse meat is very appealing
Cà Mau: A Destination for Delicious Field Mouse Specialties
Bee Larvae Salad
Considered one of the finest cuisines in Cà Mau, bee larvae salad combines the rich flavor of bee larvae with the fragrant aroma of fried shallots, along with a hint of sweetness from sugar, pepper, and fish sauce. Mixing processed bee larvae with thinly sliced banana blossoms, peanuts, coriander, and mint creates a unique dish.
Nutritious and creamy bee larvae
Exploring Cà Mau's Culinary Delights: Indulge in Creamy Bee Larvae
Tamarind Stir-fried Mud Crab
Mud crabs, though small, are favored by many diners even more than field crabs because their meat is tender and sweet. After cooking, the crab meat becomes crispy, accompanied by the sourness of tamarind for a perfect balance of flavors. The soft shell of the mud crab is edible and adds texture to the dish.
Salty and Spicy Stir-fried Mud Crab
Grilled Snakehead Fish
A rustic dish in Vietnamese family meals. The main ingredient is snakehead fish, a mild-mannered fish with plenty of meat, few bones, and high protein content. After being thoroughly cleaned, the fish is pierced with bamboo sticks along its body and then buried in a pile of dry straw, ignited until the flames die out. Simply splitting the fish in half reveals the tender, fragrant white flesh inside.
Grilled Snakehead Fish Dish
Grilled Snakehead Fish - A Traditional Dish from the Mekong Delta
Cà Mau Crab
Renowned for its delightful aroma, sweetness, and firm meat, Cà Mau Crab ensures health safety as it is raised in entirely natural environments. Thriving in diverse ecosystems, the crabs enjoy a rich diet, primarily consisting of various crustaceans, resulting in their high protein and nutritional value. Prices for Cà Mau Crab range from approximately 450,000 to 550,000 VND per kilogram.
Cà Mau Crab specialty, large and meaty
Where to Rest?
There are plenty of resting options depending on the type of tourism travelers pursue. Backpackers can seek budget guesthouses or hostels, with prices ranging from 100,000 to 200,000 VND per night. Conversely, luxury resorts offer premium services at significantly higher prices but boast professional and superb quality.
Muong Thanh Luxury Ca Mau
Rating: 5*
Address: Lo C03 A, Administrative Center - Political Center of Ca Mau Province, Ward 9, Ca Mau City, Ca Mau Province
With architectural style ranging from overall design to interior in a blend of European elegance and classical sophistication, Muong Thanh Luxury Ca Mau promises to offer travelers moments of relaxation through exquisite services.
Spacious, luxurious ambiance...
Classical, refined architecture...
Will be a superb resort destination for travelers
International Hotel
Rating: 3 stars
Address: 179 Phan Ngọc Hiển, Cà Mau City, Cà Mau Province
The hotel offers a variety of room rental services for travelers at different price points to meet all needs, so guests don't have to worry about prices. Overall, the hotel is designed with simplicity yet attentiveness, providing a spacious, clean, and convenient interior space.
Interior of International Hotel
Thanh Nhàn 1 Hotel
Rating: 2 stars
Address: 12B Lý Thường Kiệt, Ward 6, Hamlet 7, Cà Mau City, Cà Mau Province
Warm and cozy, just like home, that's the standout feature of Thanh Nhan 1 Hotel. With utmost dedication and attentive service, this address ensures the most relaxing and satisfying moments for visiting guests.
Cozy and clean guest rooms
To explore more information about other hotels, you can click here!
What to buy when visiting Cà Mau?
Watermelon pickles
Watermelon pickles are a type of pickled fruit made from watermelon trees in large jars. At first glance, watermelon pickles resemble lemongrass but have a completely different taste, both crispy and slightly sour. This dish can be eaten with rice or stir-fried with meat according to preference, and it's delicious either way. The price for 1kg of watermelon pickles ranges from 30,000 to 60,000 VND and can be found for sale in many places. Because it is pickled using completely natural methods, buyers can rest assured in its use.
Famous Watermelon Tree in Cà Mau
Watermelon pickles are fermented and sold along highways
U Minh forest honey
U Minh forest honey has long been renowned for its pure golden-orange color, sweet aroma, and remarkable health benefits. With such high quality, this honey is sold to tourists at a relatively high price, ranging from 500,000 to 700,000 VND per liter.
Pure U Minh Forest Honey
Above are general reviews that help us understand an overview of Cà Mau. With its majestic wilderness beauty and unique landscapes, Cà Mau is both a land imbued with rustic charm and the profoundness of ancient forests. Don't miss the chance to explore this rich and mysterious land to learn more about natural life and marvel at the unique landscapes bestowed by nature.
