As Hanoi enters autumn, Cần Thơ begins its season of rising waters. From September to November, this is the peak season for tourism in Cần Thơ. Visitors during this time can experience vast fields of water, enjoy lush fruit gardens, and explore bustling floating markets on boats. This is also a great opportunity to immerse in the local life during the water season.
Is it worth visiting Cần Thơ during the season of rising waters?
When does Cần Thơ enter the season of rising waters?
It seems to have become a tradition in the Mekong Delta. Every year, from the eighth to the eleventh lunar months, the waters of the Mekong River flood the region, covering fields and transforming the area into a vast sea. The water from the Mekong's upper reaches flows down, blanketing the entire western region.

For the locals in the Mekong Delta, this is the time when the flood season arrives, but for tourists on budget travel tours who love the water-filled landscapes of the region, it is known as the flood season. At this time, everywhere is adorned with a romantic and captivating beauty, with picturesque scenery and countless natural gifts.
Developing Tourism in Can Tho during the Flood Season
Visiting Can Tho during this time offers tourists a completely different experience from what they may have imagined. During the flood season, travelers will navigate canals, rivers, and creeks on boats to admire the nature and local life.

As the boat glides over the vast waters, visitors' eyes are drawn to the small fishing boats and the wooden vessels, the primary means of transportation for locals during this season, moored by the stilt houses. The natural landscape is a stunning masterpiece, with birds soaring overhead, fish swimming below, and the flowers of wild sunflowers, white lotuses, and pink lotuses in full bloom, offering a unique and poetic beauty. You can also observe the simple, familiar life of the locals, such as small boats gathering wild sunflowers in a serene and intimate way.

As visitors travel along the riverside and through the water ponds, the bustling life of Can Tho becomes even more apparent. People are busy with seasonal activities, such as fishing, shrimping, and collecting snails and crabs to supplement their income during the flood season. The rows of fishing nets and traps set up along the water, waiting for fish and shrimp, inadvertently create a rare and beautiful sight that can only be witnessed during the flood season.
Famous Tourist Attractions during the Flood Season
When visiting Can Tho during this season, don't forget to stop by the Cai Rang Floating Market and Ninh Kieu Wharf, two of Can Tho's most famous domestic tourist destinations, to admire the vibrant beauty of the most dynamic city in the Mekong Delta. The Cai Rang Floating Market during this time seems to have a livelier, fresher atmosphere, bustling with boats coming and going with the flowing water.

During this season, the boats and canoes bring a wider variety of products and goods compared to other times of the year. Visitors can buy fresh, fragrant fruits at very affordable prices and even enjoy them right on the boat.
Moreover, when the floodwaters arrive in Can Tho, they unexpectedly enrich the land with seasonal delicacies like 'ca linh,' a precious gift from nature for the locals. Travelers must try the sour 'ca linh' soup cooked with water lilies, served with white rice. It's a simple yet delicious dish that carries the warmth and spirit of the Western people, promising to leave an unforgettable taste in the visitors' hearts.
