Travel Tips for Can Tho

The uniqueness of Can Tho lies in its intricate network of canals. The canals serve as 'streets,' adding charm to a city once known as the Western Capital. When traveling to Can Tho, visitors can not only feel the sophistication of the bustling urban area in the Mekong Delta but also experience the simple beauty of nature alongside its people and their way of life.

Travel Tips for Can Tho

1. Best Time to Visit

Can Tho has a pleasant climate with minimal storms. It is hot and humid throughout the year, lacking a cold season. The rainy season extends from May to November, while the dry season is from December to April of the following year. The average temperature is 27ºC.

2. Transportation

There are two main modes of transportation for travelers from all regions to reach Can Tho:

By Air: Three airlines operate flights from Hanoi to Can Tho.

Vietnam Airlines: Prices range from 2,400,000 to 4,500,000 VND for a round-trip ticket. Additionally, the airline operates flights from Can Tho to Phu Quoc, Con Dao, and vice versa.

Vietjet Air: Operates Hanoi - Can Tho flights with prices ranging from 1,800,000 - 2,700,000 VND for a round-trip ticket. Travelers from the Central region can easily reach Can Tho with the Can Tho - Da Nang route starting from July 2014.

Additionally, travelers can also find affordable tickets to Can Tho from Jetstar.

By Road: Cars are the primary mode of transportation used by most people in the Mekong Delta. It takes just over 3 hours from Ho Chi Minh City for travelers to reach Can Tho.

Travelers can go to the Western Bus Station (address: 395 Kinh Duong Vuong, An Lac Ward, Binh Tan District, Ho Chi Minh City) to purchase tickets or contact specialized buses for the Saigon - Can Tho route such as:

• Phuong Trang Bus

Saigon: 272 De Tham, District 1. Phone: (08) 38375570. Departures from the Western Bus Station are from 7 am to 10 pm.

Can Tho: Departures from Nguyen Trai Bus Station (intersection of Hung Vuong Street) with a frequency of every half an hour.

• Hoang Long Bus

Saigon: Ticket Office at Mien Dong Bus Station, Phone - (08) 35113113. Office: 47 Pham Ngu Lao, District 1, phone (08) 39151818.

Can Tho: Bus Station on Highway 91B

• Mai Linh Bus

Booking hotline in Saigon: (08) 39292929. Hotline: 0985 29 29 29.

Saigon - Can Tho route: 15-seat and 45-seat buses alternate every 15 minutes for daily departures, 24/24.

Ticket prices from Saigon to Can Tho range from only 130,000 - 140,000 VND per ticket.

Explore some of the finest hotels in Cần Thơ:

Victoria Can Tho Resort

A 4-star resort, the first to meet international standards in the Mekong Delta region. With 15 years of operation, Victoria Can Tho Resort maintains its position as the most luxurious resort, especially favored by tourists visiting the Western river region.

As you step in, you might feel like you're entering a classic castle nestled in a garden full of flowers and lush greenery, reminiscent of ancient fairy tales. Each room features a sophisticated design blending local traditional beauty with international-class amenities, showcasing the unique beauty of Vietnamese architecture combined with the refined aesthetic sense of the French. Victoria Can Tho Resort is sure to provide tourists with serene and fascinating experiences, offering a peaceful, beautiful, and uniquely charming destination.

Indulge in the hottest all-inclusive resort package in the Mekong Delta

Vinpearl Hotel Can Tho 

Situated at Ninh Kieu Wharf, the romantic symbol of Can Tho, Vinpearl Can Tho Hotel boasts contemporary Asian-inspired architecture, leaning gracefully by the tranquil Hau River, creating a vibrant yet poetic facade that resonates with the essence of the Western land.

As a complex of Shopping Center and Hotel, Vinpearl Can Tho is the tallest building in the city and the first international 5-star hotel in Can Tho. Guests will experience an exceptional stay, indulging in luxurious privacy while being intimately close to nature, allowing them to explore the beauty of the Mekong Delta.

TTC Hotel – Premium Can Tho

Located on the banks of the Hau River, TTC Hotel – Premium Can Tho is positioned in the heart of Can Tho city. Designed with 107 spacious, comfortable, and modern rooms to meet the satisfaction of guests. TTC Hotel – Premium Can Tho offers 5 different room types: Deluxe City View, Deluxe River View, Premium Suite, TTC Suite, and the highest-class President Suite – where guests can admire the sunrise and sunset from the balcony while enjoying the panoramic view of the city and the Hau River, promising moments of relaxation with top-notch services.

Fortuneland Hotel Can Tho

Located in the center of Can Tho City, the hotel is approximately 2 km away from Phat Hoc Pagoda, Binh Thuy Ancient House, and Can Tho Station, and just a 15-minute boat ride from the famous Cai Rang Floating Market. Fortuneland Hotel comprises 171 well-designed and modern rooms, ensuring to be an interesting accommodation choice for tourists visiting Can Tho.

Hau Giang Hotel Can Tho

Located in the heart of Can Tho city, Hau Giang Hotel allows guests to reach Can Tho Old Market in about a 5-minute walk or take a leisurely stroll along the romantic Ninh Kieu Wharf, admiring the sparkling beauty of the city at night. With a total scale of 52 rooms equipped with modern amenities, the hotel offers luxurious and modern room types such as Standard, Superior, Deluxe, Suite, and Family, decorated in European style while still retaining the traditional charm of Asia. It caters to the tastes of a diverse range of customers both domestically and internationally.

4. What to eat?

In Can Tho, there are many delicious and affordable eateries. In the evening, you can have dinner on a boat cruising along the Hau River, which is very exciting.

– Mekong River fish in Can Tho is large, firm, and reasonably priced.

– Can Tho Pancake: Known as 'bánh cống' or 'cống' due to the cylindrical mold used. The pancake is low or round and slightly puffed, crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside. When eaten, it is cut into small pieces and served with various raw vegetables, sweet and sour fish sauce, and pickles.

– Vietnamese Pancake: Made from rice flour mixed with coconut milk, turmeric, shrimp, and meat... Vietnamese pancake is rolled with rice paper and accompanied by various raw vegetables (spicy mustard greens, lettuce, purple basil, mint, basil, fish mint, banana flower, sliced starfruit...). Depending on personal taste, you can dip the pancake in fish sauce or hoisin sauce.

– Grilled Snakehead Fish: Grilled snakehead fish (best grilled with straw), a dish that has been around since the exploration of the Southern land, with a rich flavor that many tourists visiting Can Tho want to savor.

– Grilled Pepper Snails: When in Can Tho, you must try grilled pepper snails. The snails are pre-boiled and then grilled while adding fish sauce, pepper, and garlic inside until the liquid inside dries down, then it's ready to eat.

– Dry Shrimp Vermicelli – Cai Rang: Sold for over a decade, dry shrimp vermicelli has become a beloved brand.

Address: Cai Rang Market, 35/4 Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Le Binh Ward, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City. Every day, the shop sells from 6 am to 9-10 am until sold out.

– Grilled Rat with Fermented Tofu: It sounds scary, but it's a unique and rustic dish, yet equally appealing in this riverine region. Grilled rat with fermented tofu is a popular snack that connoisseurs really enjoy. You can visit specialty restaurants in Can Tho or Vi Thanh, Phung Hiep... to savor this delicious, unique, and affordable dish.

– To enjoy these dishes, you can visit any restaurant in Can Tho. Additionally, there are some streets associated with typical dishes such as:

+ Fermented Fish Hotpot – Dạ Ly Restaurant on 3/2 Street. This is a long-established and experienced restaurant in making fermented fish hotpot. Many people believe: 'If you haven't eaten Dạ Ly's fermented fish hotpot, you haven't really been to Can Tho.'

+ Ly Tu Trong Street: In alley 1, there's a delicious Duck Hotpot with Fermented Tofu. If you're in the mood for Pho, visit OANH's Pho shop also on Ly Tu Trong Street.

+ Le Lai Street (right next to Luu Huu Phuoc Park, 20 meters in, you'll find): Famous for Banh Beo, Banh Cuon, Banh Tam Bi... It's a place with great reputation, so arrive early or you might not find a seat or they might run out of stock.

+ Le Loi Street, renowned for 'Rau Ma Dau,' meaning crushed pennywort with mung beans, very delicious; or 'beo' noodles behind the two above-mentioned places (only sold in the evening).

+ For the ladies, in the evening, you can also visit the Museum of Military Zone 9, located on Hoa Binh Avenue (opposite Ninh Kieu 2 Hotel) to enjoy dried beef salad and soy milk.

+ Dish called 'tofu with ice' and fried rice cake in the evening sold in Khmer Pagoda.

+ 30th of April Street: Every night, a variety of dishes are sold such as Hu Tieu noodles, Bun Bo Hue, sweet soup, fertilized duck egg... But the representative dish for this street is plain rice porridge with salted duck egg, eaten with braised fish or both, depending on your taste.

5. Points of Interest

– Floating Market: To visit the floating market in Can Tho, head to Ninh Kieu Wharf to catch a boat. There are plenty of tourist boats available at Ninh Kieu Wharf for you to choose from. It's best to book in the afternoon the day before so you can depart early the next morning.

From Ninh Kieu, you can go to Phong Dien and Cai Rang. Cai Rang Floating Market is located in Cai Rang District, Can Tho City, 30 minutes by canoe from Ninh Kieu, specializing in trading agricultural products and various fruits of the region.

– Bang Lang Stork Garden: located in Thoi Binh Hamlet, Thoi Thuan Commune, Thot Not District, Can Tho City. It is one of the largest bird sanctuaries where cranes nest along the nine rivers.

– Can Tho Garden Tourism: Can Tho Gardens are spread across various roads and waterways in Can Tho City. The lush green tourist gardens have been and are attracting an increasing number of tourists from both domestic and international destinations.

– Binh Thuy Ancient House: located on Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thuy Ward, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City. This ancient house with five spans and two roofs, French-style architecture, was built by the Duong family in 1870.

– Nam Nha Pagoda: located at 612 Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, An Thoi Ward, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho City. Built in 1895 by Mr. Nguyen Giac Nguyen, it follows the Minh Su sect, hence also known as Minh Su Pagoda.

– Ong Pagoda: located on Hai Ba Trung Street, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. Ong Pagoda is a place of religious and cultural activities for the Chinese community in Can Tho. The pagoda was recognized as a national architectural and artistic monument by the Ministry of Culture - Information in 1993.

– West Delta Night Market – Cultural and Tourist Market: about 1km west of the center of Can Tho, located in the Can Tho International Exhibition Fair area.

West Delta Market is a major trading center for provinces in the South, as well as an attractive entertainment and tourism destination.

***

Reference: Mytour Travel Guide