Can Tho is one of 5 centrally run cities in Vietnam. It is the most developed unit of 13 provinces in the Mekong River Delta. Therefore it is known as Tay Do (capital of the west). Can Tho is an ideal tourist and resort destination with vast rice fields, pristine canals, typical wild animals, a long-standing floating market, and any cozy villages where you can roam around by bicycle and sampans.
Table of Contents
Can Tho tours & activities for Expats
1. Ninh Kieu Pier;
2. Can Tho Night Market;
2. Can Tho walking bridge;
3. Cai Rang Floating Market;
4. Phong Dien Floating Market;
5. Binh Thuy ancient house (The house was famously used in the 1992 movie “L’Amant” (“The Lover”) based on the novel of the same name by French author Marguerite Duras, directed by Jean Jacques Annaud);
6. Make a cycling ride along the Mekong canals and hidden villages;
7. May tropical fruit garden in the rainy seasons;
8. watch the golden sunset/sunrise with the green/yellow paddy rice fields;
9. Taking sampan in Can Tho; Discover wildlife and forest and trekking;
10. Discover Can Tho excellent cuisines and secrets;
11. Can Tho Giant Ficus Tree – Secret VC base;
12. Can Tho rice noodle factory – the traditional one;
13. Can Tho Sky Bar and local pubs;
14. Can Tho Antique & Unique coffee shop;
15. Can Tho old market;
16. Can Tho museum;
17. Ong pagoda;
18. Organic cacao farm;
19. Ba Bo Flower Village;
Time
December to February is considered the best time to visit Can Tho because during that time it is cool and dry. Avoid March to June, if you don’t like extreme temperatures. If you plan to visit during the rainy (flooding) months, check the weather forecast before leaving.
Transportation
Currently, there are many flights from Can Tho to other places and vice versa (You can find out in Google.) From Ho Chi Minh City, you can go to Can Tho by bus, car, boat, or plane. Currently, you can go to Con Dao from Can Tho by speedboat Con Dao Express or 5-star Mai Linh Express, travel time is about 3 hours/way.
Accommodation
You should consider staying on Au Island and the riverside, where there are many great hotels and boutique resorts if you want to stay away from the noise of the city center. It is convenient for wildlife tours the on Can Tho River. In addition, Can Tho also has many homestays run by locals in Cai Rang and Phong Dien districts, where you can combine exploring the Mekong and having a little adventure during the flood season!
Water
Can Tho river water is fresh. You can wash your face, hands, and feet without fear of skin diseases. Use bottled water to prevent stomach diseases.
Internet
Wi-Fi is available everywhere from hotels to urban and rural cafes in Can Tho. If you’re from the EU, you can also use your own data plan. You can also contact hotels or local mobile phone stores to buy a SIM card.
Learn a little Vietnamese
When interacting with local people, if you know and use a little Vietnamese, it will be easier to win their hearts. At a bare minimum: Hello = xin chao (sin chow), yes = dạ vâng, no = không (khom), thank you = cám ơn (kahm uhn), I’m sorry = tôi xin lỗi (toy sin loy), no problem/you’re welcome = không có gì (khong koh zi), goodbye = tạm biệt (tarm byeet), How much? = bao nhiêu? (baow nyew), spicy/hot (cay), Oh My God (ôi..choy…oi…), I’m vegetarian = tôi ăn chay (toy an chayh).
What we liked
We really enjoyed the floating markets and watching locals cut fresh pineapples for us, cycling to pristine villages and along the canals of vemekong.com. We enjoyed a wonderful local lunch. We also like sitting on a sampan on the Mekong River, watching the sunset.
What we didn’t like
Riverbank restaurants and local shops are few, even not many Can Tho’s secrets to explore, just okie rooftop bar (but we got the romantic sampan 247 for the sunset) and hard to find more things to do in Can Tho beside the Can Tho wildlife and forest. The transportation from Can Tho to Saigon, Rach Gia, Chau Doc is easy, but it so hard to use the local bus for other places like: Soc Trang, Ben Tre, Sadec, Vinh Long.
