Can Tho Travel

Can Tho Weather Overview

As located in Mekong River Delta, thus, Can Tho weather belongs to Weather in Mekong River Delta. Temperature in Can Tho changes seasonally. There are two distinct seasons, but the temperature gap between months is not large (about 2.5 degrees Celsius). The average annual temperature is 26.6 degrees Celsius; the lowest temperature is 19.7 degrees Celsius, while the highest one is 34.4 degrees Celsius. The total number of sunny hours is 2,300 hours per year. Thermal amplitude between day and night is quite large, about 7.4 degrees Celsius. Average humidity per month is 86.6%, the difference of humidity between months is not large. From June to October, weather in Can Tho undergoes a high humidity period, while February and March are driest months in a year (about 2mm). Annual average rainfall is 1,946 mm  with 189 rainy days per year. Rainfall is different by region but not markedly. Overall, rainy season in Can Tho lasts from May to November (92-97% of the annual rainfall); dry season from December to April with the total rainfall of about 100 mm (3-8% of the annual rainfall). It rains mostly in September, October (about 270 mm).

Check the below table for the general idea of Can Tho weather throughout the year:

Best time to go to Can Tho

Early rainy season is considered the best time to visit Can Tho (mostly in April, May and June). This period is typified by a comfortable climate with light rain and warm weather. Thus, you will have an ideal time to explore river areas and fruit gardens in Can Tho. In addition, during this time, there are many interesting festivals in Can Tho such as Cholchonam Thomay Festival and Opening Crop Festival. Visiting Can Tho in this season, you will be lured into the exciting and bustling atmosphere in famous floating markets in Can Tho. Another best time to travel Can Tho is from January to March. During this time, the weather in Can Tho is portrayed by hot humid days, and cool nights. For those who adore the tropical climate, Can Tho in this season can satisfies you with different beautiful and famous places and local delicious food.

Can Tho Seasonal Weather Guide

Dry season

Can Tho climate is portrayed by low humidity and rainfall; the temperature ranges from 23-30 degrees Celsius. In December, the temperature stays between 23 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius which is still on the cold side. In January, it is hot in daytime and cool at nighttime. In January, the temperature ranges between 22 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. The weather starts to get better from late December. The genial warm weather entices people who never undergo hot weather. Even people who live in hot places love this comfortable weather of Can Tho. In the month of February the temperature fluctuates from 23 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius. Although the weather is slightly hotter, it does not make people feel uncomfortable. The weather remains the constant in March and April. During the daytime, temperature remains between 24 and 31 degrees Celsius.

Rainy season

Can Tho weather witnesses a change in rainfall level starting from May. In May, the temperature varies from 24-31 degrees Celsius, high humidity and rainfall level (171mm). The temperature remains in June, but there are more rains (16 days in this month with precipitation of 192mm). In July, the temperature ranges from 25-31 degrees Celsius. The humidity is extremely high. The rainfall level is about 218mm. However, climate in Can Tho remains comfortable. August is the end of summer. In this month, temperature varies from 24-30 degrees Celsius, the precipitation of 201mm, and high humidity. From September to November, Can Tho undergoes heavy rains and several thunderstorms.

Can Tho Current Weather and 7-day Forecast

CẦN THƠ WEATHER

Can Tho city is considered the capital of the Mekong Delta. It is one of the more attractive and easily traveled Delta towns, with its main draw being the Cai Rang floating market. But there are other things to do while in town and here are our favorites.

Can Tho city is considered the capital of the Mekong Delta. It is one of the more attractive and easily traveled Delta towns, with its main draw being the Cai Rang floating market. But there are other things to do while in town and here are our favorites.

1. Boat ride to visit the floating markets

Cai Rang Floating Market

Cai Rang Floating Market is the most iconic floating market not only in Mekong Delta but also in all Vietnam. In recent years, Cai Rang is even more worthy to visit, even though you might find the market quite touristy.

Located just 5 kilometers from Can Tho City, it takes you only 30 minutes away from Ninh Kieu Wharf by boat. Cai Rang Floating Market has existed for more than 100 years, making it one of the oldest cultural practices in Mekong Delta. Cai Rang is also listed as the top 6 busiest floating markets on the world, and surely, if you miss the market in your trip to Can Tho, surely you're missing the point here.

Opening early in the morning, Cai Rang sells mostly agricultural products like fresh fruits from the orchards, vegetables and breakfast food like noodle soup, Hu Tieu, coffee, snack and soft drinks, etc. Other useful products for visitors are also available like mobile card, cosmetic and clothing.

Come to Cai Rang floating market, you can see the life on the water so vividly. The people here are so adapted to the river life with their boat-house where they have everything they need on the water. Unlike your normal markets, people don't yell about what they sell, but instead, to inform the buyers about the products, they hang one of each type of the products on a bamboo pole. Of course, only the hangable ones.

How to get to Cai Rang market:

From Ninh Kieu Wharf’s Tourist Port 1 (Hai Ba Trung Street), you can easily buy a boat ticket to visit the Cai Rang Floating Market. There are two types of boat – the big boat has 15 seats and is roofed while the smaller boat can fit 2-4 people, and doesn’t have a roof.

Boat tickets: 360,000VND/boat (big boat), 200,000VND/boat (small boat)

If you choose the bigger boat, you might have to wait a bit longer for the seats to be filled up.

Or you can rent a boat from the boat ladies, who often arrange two kinds of tours:

- 1-hour tour to Cai Rang Floating Market and back to Ninh Kieu: 50,000VND per person

- 4-hour tour to Cai Rang Floating Market and river canals: from 500,000VND per boat

The third option for you is renting a boat from An Binh Port. A 1-hour motorboat tour around the floating market costs around 150,000VND per boat.

When to visit Cai Rang market:

The market opens every day in the morning, can be distinguished as a large group of boats gathering in the middle of Can Tho River. The busiest time in Cai Rang Market is between January and February, 1 or 2 weeks before Lunar New Year and April-May when tropical fruits are picked and sold here.

Phong Dien Floating Market

Often overlooked by visitors to Can Tho who just know about the famous Cai Rang Floating Market, Phong Dien Floating Market is certainly less visited and less touristy.

Phong Dien starts around 4-5 AM every day and busiest around 7-8 AM, located just 17km away from the center of Can Tho. This floating market is among the busiest floating market with abundant and diverse products like fruits, vegetables, foods, household items, gasoline and working tools. Come to Phong Dien, you'll have a chance to see the sampan boats, motorboats and big boats full of products cruising slowly on the river, making it such a unique, bustling and no less iconic scene only to be seen in this region.

Don't forget to enjoy the local delicacies being sold right on the boat like noodle soup, noodles with toasted meat, rice soup, Hu Tieu, and coffee, etc. In particular, there are dozens of ferry and vessels anchoring at the river's bank. They are ready to take tourists to visit the floating market.

Unlike Cai Rang market and other markets that close quite soon before noon, the activities in Phong Dien Market still goes on until the afternoon.

How to visit Phong Dien Floating Market:

You can book a tour to visit boat Cai Rang and Phong Dien, often costs more than 500,000VND per person. Or you can enjoy the views over Phong Dien floating market by sitting on a café along the river.

2. Explore Ninh Kieu Wharf

Ninh Kieu Wharf lies on the bank of Hau River, which is the gateway to discover Can Tho's floating markets and orchards, creating a symbolic scene of the harmonious life of the people along the Mekong. The wharf is also the city's main trading center which becomes quite bustling after nightfall.

Ninh Kieu is more than a just a wharf since it has long been developed into a park on an area of 7000sqm, featuring a flower garden and floating restaurants. From 2016, Ninh Kieu's attracted even more visitors with the walking street, food area and night market. Also in this year, a 200m long pedestrian bridge was inaugurated to connect Ninh Kieu and Cai Khe Islet.

Stand on the ground of Ninh Kieu Wharf, not only you can see the flow of Hau River, but you can also see Can Tho harbor and Can Tho bridge - the longest cable-stayed bridge in Southeast Asia.

3. Shopping at Ninh Kieu Night Market

Located within Ninh Kieu Wharf’s area, Ninh Kieu night market is the best spot to hang out in Can Tho after nightfall. The night market attracts locals and tourists alike with its nice souvenirs, delicious street food, and walking street. From the market, you can enjoy Hau River lit up with the sparkling lights. The food in Can Tho is generally cheap, and at Ninh Kieu Market, you can enjoy the local delicacies to your heart content.

4. Storks watching at Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary

Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary is one of the few spots in Can Tho to see the biodiversity of the Mekong Delta wetlands. Located in Thot Not District, on way from Can Tho City to Long Xuyen city, Bang Lang Stork Sanctuary covers an area of 19,400sqm and is home to tens of thousands of storks.

To see the storks, visit Bang Lang Sanctuary from 6:00 AM to 7:00 AM when they fly off to search for food and from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM when they return. The visitors will see the storks flying and standing in clusters on the trees' branches here. It's just a peaceful scene to see in the rural area of Can Tho.

5. Admire traditional Vietnamese architecture at Binh Thuy Ancient House

Located at No.26/1A Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thuy District, about 10 kilometers from Can Tho City, Binh Thuy Ancient House shines with a classic French architecture style. Built in 1870 by Mr. Duong Chan Ky, Binh Thuy ancient house is among few ancient houses left in Mekong Delta that has been kept intact.

Covering a total area of 8000sqm with a lush garden and fresh air, Binh Thuy House can be a great place to rest on your trip. Inside the house, you can encounter many combinations of Eastern and Western styles - oriental style shows more on the furniture and interior while the western style seen in the outside decorations.

There are also rare antiques in the house such as two sets of marble tables and chairs from Yunnan, a set of mosaic tables and loungers with French furniture style from the Louis XV period, chandelier made in the 18th century and more.

6. Visit Ong Pagoda for some eye-popping photos

Located right in the city's center, on Hai Ba Trung Street, near Ninh Kieu Wharf, Ong Pagoda is an outstanding religious construction to visit in Can Tho. Built from 1894 to 1896 on an area of 532sqm in the shape of Han character (Quoc), Ong Pagoda is an excellent example of Chinese temple architecture in South Vietnam.

The roof of the pagoda is made in double tiles, edged by dark green glazed tiles on the top, adorn by many many porcelain figures related to ancient legends, such as two dragons flaking the moon, carp changing into a dragon, and phoenix. At the roof's each end stand the statues of people holding the sun and moon.

Ong Pagoda is the worshiping place of Quan Cong - a general from Chinese's three-kingdom period, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, Tai Bach Tinh Quan (God of Wealth), Holy Mother Thien Hau, and Dong Vinh.

7. Admire the Khmer architecture at Pitu Khosa Rangsay Pagoda

Pitu Khosa Rangsay Pagoda in Can Tho is among the best Khmer pagodas in Mekong Delta. Located at 27/18 Mac Dinh Chi Street, Ninh Kieu district, Pitu Khosa Rangsay boasts a splendid architecture that captures your eyes with its glimmering golden roof.

The sanctum of the pagoda has three floors while the pagoda's stupa above is adorned with delicate Khmer patterns and images such as dragons, Fairy Kayno, sacred bird Krud, Goddess Teppanom, etc. At the sanctum, statues of Shakyamuni made of stone or copper are finely carved.

Annual Khmer festivals such as Ok Om Bok, Chol Chnam Thmay and Dolta are often held in the pagoda.

8. A taste of rural life in My Khanh Tourist Garden

My Khanh Tourist Garden boasts bountifulness of the nature and a peaceful atmosphere of a garden lying on the bank of Can Tho River. Tourists can easily go to My Khanh Tourist Village by road or waterway through Cai Rang floating market.
Covering a total area of 40,000sqm, the whole garden is an orchard with more than 20 species of plants. Not only plants to see here, but My Khanh garden also has many things to see such as monkey circus, dog and pig races, boating, fishing, watching Don Ca Tai Tu performance, tasting southern delicacies like sizzling cake, khot cake, grilled corn, grilled chicken and fish... Another special thing to try in My Khanh is 'fishing crocodiles'. On harvest season, you can taste the fresh fruits here right off the branch.

Looking to find comfortable accommodation in Can Tho for a night or two so you can explore the early morning floating markets in the region? Checking our selection below and find the most suitable one for you.

Budget options

Ruby Can Tho Hotel 

Add: 34 Nguyen An Ninh, Can Tho, Vietnam

Set in Can Tho, 400 m from Ninh Kieu Pier, Ruby Can Tho Hotel offers accommodation with free bikes, free private parking and a shared lounge. This 2-star hotel offers room service and an ATM. The accommodation features a 24-hour front desk, a shared kitchen and currency exchange for guests.

The units come with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, a kettle, a bidet, a hairdryer and a desk. With a private bathroom equipped with a shower and free toiletries, rooms at the hotel also provide guests with free WiFi. At Ruby Can Tho Hotel, every room includes a seating area.

The accommodation offers a sun terrace. The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire and car hire are available at Ruby Can Tho Hotel.

CT Morning Hostel 

Add: 81 Lý Hồng Thanh, Can Tho, Vietnam

Featuring a terrace, CT Morning Hostel is set in Can Tho in the Can Tho Municipality region, less than 1 km from Vincom Plaza Hung Vuong and 1.8 km from Ninh Kieu Pier. Featuring a shared lounge, the 2-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a private bathroom. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, a shared kitchen and organising tours for guests.

At the hotel all rooms are equipped with a wardrobe and a flat-screen TV.

Popular points of interest near CT Morning Hostel include Can Tho Stadium, Can Tho Museum and Ninh Kieu Footbridge. The nearest airport is Can Tho International, 9 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a paid airport shuttle service.

Mekong Rose Hotel 

Add: 59 Lý Hồng Thanh, Can Tho, Vietnam

Featuring a terrace, Mekong Rose Hotel is located in Can Tho in the Can Tho Municipality region, 700 m from Vincom Plaza Hung Vuong and 1.9 km from Ninh Kieu Pier. With free WiFi, this 2-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk and room service. The hotel features family rooms.

All units in the hotel are equipped with a kettle. At Mekong Rose Hotel, every room comes with air conditioning and a flat-screen TV.

A buffet breakfast is available daily at the accommodation.

Mid-range options

LION HOTEL 

Add: 63-65 Hung Vuong Street, Thoi Binh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Can Tho

LION HOTEL is located in Can Tho, within 2.2 km of Vincom Plaza Xuan Khanh and 6 km of Cai Rang Floating Market.

The property is set 1.2 km from Can Tho Stadium, 1.2 km from Can Tho Museum and 1.6 km from Ninh Kieu Footbridge.

The accommodation provides a 24-hour front desk, room service and ticket service for guests.

All units are equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen TV with cable channels, a fridge, a kettle, a shower, a hairdryer and a desk. At the hotel every room comes with a wardrobe and a private bathroom.

HOLIDAY 2 HOTEL 

Add: 79 Phạm Ngọc Thạch Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu Dist.,, Can Tho

HOLIDAY 2 HOTEL features accommodation in Can Tho near Can Tho Museum and Ninh Kieu Footbridge. Boasting a 24-hour front desk, this property also provides guests with a restaurant. The property is situated 3.1 km from Lotte Mart Can Tho and 3.4 km from Vincom Plaza Xuan Khanh.

All rooms in the hotel are fitted with a kettle. At HOLIDAY 2 HOTEL, the rooms have air conditioning and a flat-screen TV.
Guests at the accommodation can enjoy a buffet breakfast.

Adora Central Park Hostel 

Add: 6/28 Le Lai, An Phu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho

Situated in Can Tho, 1.4 km from Ninh Kieu Pier, Adora Central Park Hostel features accommodation with a bar, free private parking, a shared lounge and a garden. Featuring a terrace, the 3-star hostel has air-conditioned rooms with free WiFi, each with a shared bathroom. The accommodation offers a 24-hour front desk, a shared kitchen and currency exchange for guests.

At the hostel, the rooms come with a wardrobe. All rooms at Adora Central Park Hostel are fitted with a seating area.
The area is popular for cycling, and bike hire and car hire are available at the accommodation.

Kim Tho Hotel 

Add: 1 Ngo Gia Tu, Can Tho, Vietnam

Nestled in the heart of Ninh Kieu Quay, Kim Tho Hotel features a 24-hour front desk, indoor hot tub and sauna facility. Free WiFi access is available in the public areas, while parking is provided at no charge.

The hotel is within 300 m from Ninh Kieu Pier and Can Tho Museum. The nearest Can Tho bus station is 500 m away, while Cai Rang Floating Market is 6.4 km away. Can Tho Airport can be reached with an 11 km drive.

Offering city or river views, air-conditioned rooms are equipped with a wardrobe, seating area, minibar and a flat-screen TV with cable channels. Rooms come with en suite bathroom that includes bathtub and free toiletries.

Guests at Kim Tho Hotel can request for luggage storage, laundry and massage services. Business centre and meeting/banqueting facilities are available, while sightseeing trips and tour arrangements can be made.

Housing a restaurant, guests can enjoy a tasty selection of Vietnamese and Western cuisine on site. A range of drinks can also be ordered from the bar. 24-hour room service is available.

Deluxe options

TTC Hotel - Can Tho 

Add: 2 Hai Ba Trung, Can Tho, Vietnam

Nestled on the banks of Hau River and a 2-minute walk to the riverside, TTC Hotel - Can Tho is centrally located in Can Tho. Offering panoramic views of the city and river, the 10-storey hotel features an outdoor pool, a 24-hour front desk and free Wi-Fi throughout.

TTC Hotel - Can Tho is 500 m from Ong Pagoda, the Night Market and Can Tho Stadium. It is just 6 km to Cai Rang floating market and 7 km to Can Tho Airport. Ho Chi Minh City is approximately a 3-hour drive away.

Fitted with tiled flooring, air-conditioned rooms are well-furnished with a wardrobe, desk, a cable TV and seating area. A minibar and tea/coffee making facilities are also provided. The en-suite bathroom comes equipped with a hairdryer, bathrobes and free toiletries.

TTC Hotel - Can Tho features a business centre, a casino and a nightclub. Guests can enjoy a barbecue/karaoke session on site, or indulge in a pampering massage at its spa. Luggage storage, laundry services and meeting/banqueting facilities are available on request.

The in-house TTC restaurant serves delectable Asian and Western cuisine between 06:00 to 22:00 daily. A selection of cocktails, beers and wines are served at the Alfresco Cafe, which offers panoramic views of the river.

West Hotel 

Add: 88-90-92 Hai Ba Trung, Can Tho, Vietnam

Situated in Can Tho, West Hotel offers elegant and stylish accommodation with free WiFi access in its public areas. Operating a 24-hour front desk, it features an indoor pool, fitness centre and free parking on site.

The hotel is just 100 m from Ninh Kieu Pier and 300 m from Can Tho Museum. Cai Rang Floating Market is 6.2 km away, while Rach Gia Airport is approximately 72 km away.

Offering river/city views, air-conditioned rooms include a wardrobe, in-room safe, minibar and a flat-screen TV with satellite/cable channels. The en suite bathroom comes equipped with shower facility, slippers, hairdryer and free toiletries.

At West Hotel, the friendly staff can assist guests with car/motorbike rentals, luggage storage, laundry services and tour arrangements. Airport transfers and business facilities are also available at additional charges.

The in-house restaurant serves a delectable spread of Asian and Western dishes. Special diet meals can also be prepared upon request, while after-meal drinks are offered at the bar.

Victoria Can Tho Resort 

Add: Cai Khe Ward, Can Tho, Vietnam

Situated on the banks of the Hau River, Victoria Can Tho Resort offers 4-star comfort in a quiet area in Can Tho city. Featuring colonial-style architecture, it is set amidst gardens with exotic plants, where guests can relax while sunbathing by the outdoor pool with a drink.

All air-conditioned rooms are decorated in with hints of light beige from the fabrics and brown from the dark wood furnishing. A seating area, satellite flat-screen TV and minibar are included. Private balcony is featured in selected rooms. En suite bathroom comes with a bathtub, shower and free toiletries.

Victoria Can Tho Resort offers 7 treatment rooms where guests can enjoy a variety of massages, from the traditional Vietnamese massage, to a full-length therapeutic massage. The resort operates a tour desk and 24-hour front desk to assist guests with a range of services, including express check-in/check-out, luggage storage and airport transfer.

Ninh Kieu Footbridge is 700 m from Victoria Can Tho Resort, while Can Tho Stadium and Can Tho Meseum are within 1 km away. The nearest airport is Can Tho International Airport, 12 km away.

The on-site Spices Restaurant overlooks the Hau River, with both indoor and outdoor seating areas. Guests are served European and Vietnamese cuisine, prepared by the hotel’s French chef.

Ninh Kieu Riverside Hotel 

Add: 02 Ha Ba Trung, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho, Vietnam

Ninh Kieu Riverside Hotel is located in Can Tho and is just a 1-minute walk to Ninh Kieu Footbridge. Guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant or lounge at the bar. Free WiFi is featured throughout the property and private parking is available on site.

All rooms come with a flat-screen TV with cable channels. You will find a kettle in the room. The rooms include a private bathroom fitted with a shower. Extras include slippers and free toiletries.

Bilingual staff at the 24-hour front desk can assist with private check-in and check-out, currency exchange and luggage storage.

As the capital of the west, Cần Thơ has an extensive list of fruits, vegetables, seafood, which combine to make the best cuisines in the entire region. One major characteristic of Cần Thơ is that every dish has to have rice, which is the region’s finest, and so many herbs that just make lives better.

#1 - Magenta Plant Sticky Rice Cake (Bánh tét lá cẩm)

In Cần Thơ, the best rice cake is made by the family Huynh in Binh Thuy District. The Huynhs and their descendants have made the unique rice cake by using the steamed magenta plant, using the rice cooking water, to wrap the interior, which is the sticky rice cake made out of coconut milk, meat, salt duck eggs.

In order to make a perfect rice cake, the most important part is to select the perfect sticky rice, which consists solely the sticky rice but not any other rice in it. The rice is put into the water with the magenta plant to produce a natural magenta color. The cake is chewy, combines with the sweet of the meat, and the salty of the eggs. This type of rice cake is different from the Vietnamese traditional bean rice cakes with white bean or black bean with cilantro fat or banana, which are usually sold in Xuan Khanh, An Thoi, Mit Nai markets. Many tourists who came to Cần Thơ usually come to the place of making to buy the cake.

#2 - Cai Rang Grilled Rolls (Nem nướng Cái Răng)

The best grilled rolls are made from the fresh, without fat, pork. The meat is smashed, then balled, then grilled on charcoal. The meatballs, string by the bamboo sticks, stick together to make a roll that is greasy and delicious. Taking out the bamboo stick and you will have a perfect ingredient to eat with the Bánh hỏi, a Vietnamese dish consisting of rice vermicelli woven into intricate bundles and often topped with chopped scallions or garlic chives sautéed in oil. One of the best Bánh hỏi is the Phong Dien.

Like many other dishes, the Southern people like to use herbs and rice paper to make meat-vegetable delicious rolls. The Cai Rang grilled rolls is the perfect meat. In order to make a mixing roll, you will need: cucumber, pineapple, star fruit, bitter banana, thin rice paper. The herbs will be put onto the rice paper first, and the final part, the meat roll will be put into the middle of the rice paper. All are rolled in, and the combination is dipped into a special sauce that is equally amazing. The sauce is an inseparable part of the dish. Without the sauce, the rolls are nothing. To make the sauce, you will need: the “black sauce” (made from soybean), a little bit of peanut, a bit of chili. One other type of sauce is the fish-lemon-garlic-chili sauce.

#3 - Baked Sticky Rice Banana Bun (Chuối nếp nướng)

In Cần Thơ, the banana buns are small. Not so long, not so fat, the buns have the brown of the under-burnt cooked rice from the outside, the white of the perfectly cooked rice in the inside and the yellow of the perfect ripe banana.

When it is raining, eating the hot, and delicious banana bun from the banana cart is might just be the best moment of your life.

#4 - Grilled Green Pepper Snails

The snails are steamed, and then grilled on charcoal. While grilling the snails, it is also the time to make the sauce. You will need: fish sauce, pepper, garlic. Until the water inside the snail is emptied, it is the time to serve.

The grilled snail is perfect, not too spicy, not to salty, and crunchy. The snail can be overcooked because the shell.

#5 - Cong Cake (Bánh cống)

The people from Cần Thơ only eat the cake as a snack, so it is only eaten in the afternoon or in the evening, from 4pm to night.

The cake is served with sweet-n-sour fish sauce, some lettuce, fish, mango shoots, mustard, basil. The smashed baked pea is the cake crust, while the fried shrimps and the meat is the core. Dipping the cake into the sauce with some slices of pickles, you can feel the entire Southern flavors melt inside your tongue.

#6 - Vietnamese Noodles in Coconut Cream (Bánh tầm bì)

Bánh tầm bì is a southern Vietnamese dish of thick rice and tapioca noodles, tossed with herbs and pork, and drenched in thick coconut cream dressing. The flavor of the noodle is special. Steamed inside the hot charcoal oven, the noodle is thick, and looks delicious. The fish sauce is clear and yellow.

The fatness of the coconut always mixes with the thick noodles, which is eating along with sprouts, pickles, and some cilantro-oil mixture. A simple and cheap breakfast. From everywhere and anywhere, the people in Cần Thơ will always miss this noodle.

#7 - Bánh hỏi

Coming to Cần Thơ, don’t forget to tour down to Phong Dien District by boat and visit the Minh Canh garden, where the fruits are abundant, and to eat and enjoy the famous Bánh hỏi and the delicious grilled pork.

Bánh hỏi, a Vietnamese dish consisting of rice vermicelli woven into intricate bundles and often topped with chopped scallions or garlic chives sautéed in oil. The Southerners love the dish to have some oil-cilantro mixture. The white Bánh hỏi, combines with some herbs, the hot and flavorful pork and the ultimate sauce will make you to come back for more.

#8 - Vietnamese Traditional Pancakes

In the South, they don’t say “make” the pancakes, but “pour” it. When you pour, take a cup of flour pouring into the hot frying pan, to hear a sound “XEO”. The name of the pancake is based on the sound it made: bánh xèo (bánh is cake, xeo is the sound).

The sound is unforgettable, and the flavor is irresistible, the pancake and its sauce will mesmerize you from the first taste. The sauce is also unique. The pancake is served along with some vegetables like lettuce, broccoli, and other herbs. You must use your hands to eat it, not chopsticks.

#9 - Mangrove Apple Hotpot

The appeal of hotpot lies not only in the rustic Mangrove Apple but also in the very characteristic flavor of the dish. The soup is sour not too much, but also not too less.

In order to make the delicious hotpot, the apple has to be cooked first, otherwise, the hotpot will be bitter. Depending on the season, the hotpot can be cooked with many type of fishes such as pangasius, basa, catfish, tilapia… More expensive ingredients will be shrimp, or crab. In the flooding season, it is essential to have some chopsticks flowers, banana, and many sour soup herbs.

#10 - Grilled Snakehead

Nothing is better than fish and rice. The grilled snakehead (the best is to grill with straw) is the oldest dish in the Southern land – the land that has captivated the love of many food lovers.

To catch the good snakehead, you have to wait after the flooding season, when the pouring rains are just breezes then the fishes are starting to grow. The perfect one is not too big, no bigger than an adult arm, which can be harpooned from one end to the other. After the fish is ready, put the head of the fish to face the ground, surround the fishes with straw and set the fire. When the fire is done is when the fishes are ready.

In the meantime, ready some lotus leaves, banana leaves to place the fishes on. The fish is served with the herbs; dip into salt with chili or garlic chili fish sauce. This dish requires hands to eat with.

#11 - Steamed Snakehead and Endive Porridge

After the porridge is cooked, then letting in some materials. After the heat of the porridge pot swells in with the fish, ready the fish sauce, and enjoys the hot porridge with some white rice vodka. You can add in some eggs into the porridge.

The fish is nutritious, the endive, the Oscars herbs are good for your health, eaten along with the porridge is even better than any medicine. The sweet of the rice, the fat of the fish and the indescribable flavors from the herbs make the dish so captivating to any tourists who come to the capital of the West.

#12 - Salt Fried Rock Crab

From downtown Cần Thơ, you only need 10 minutes of taking motorcycle ride to Dinh Tien Hoang Street near Hung Vuong Bus Station. There are many places serving rock crab, but this area is the best of them all.

The rock crab is turned into so many delicious dishes such as beer steaming crab, boiled crab, rock crab porridge, rock crab noodle, but the best is the salt fried rock crab.

The rock crab is big as an expanding adult hand, its shells and pincers are purple, and the shape is like the paddy field crab. The rock crab usually lives in rocky areas, reef of the island or the rock cliff of the South coast. Their pincers are strong and solid like rock, in order to eat the inside, you have to smash it. Their meat is white, soft, sweet and is perfect for the salt-n-pepper lemon mix. You will want to come back for more.

By flight

Can Tho National Airport now has a vast international terminal with convenient facilities. From 2011, the airport serves flights to Hanoi, Phu Quoc and Con Dao from Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet

Vietnam Airlines is the flag carrier and the first aviation firm in Vietnam. The prices range from VND 2,400,000 to VND 4,500,000 for a pair of round-trip tickets. Additionally, the airline also operates flights from Can Tho to Phu Quoc, Con Dao

Vietjet Air is another aviation firm that is also very well known and has a reputation for its economical price. It operates Hanoi – Can Tho flights with between VND 1,800,000 and VND 2,700,000 a pair of round-trip tickets.

By Road

By Private Car

It is possible to rent a private car for a 4 hour trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho with the price of VND 350,000- VND 500,000. A driver is included in the price.(Note: The price here is for a one way trip or return trip in the same day). If you want to drive the car by yourself, you must check well the conditions in advance.  Rent a car at vnrentacar.com

By Shuttle Bus

There are three main express bus lines departing from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho. With a reasonable price, about VND 110,000 – VND 150,000, you can have a 4 – hour trip to Can Tho from Ho Chi Minh city.

+ Phuong Trang Express bus: The largest intercity bus service to Can Tho. Coaches are fully air-conditioned and offer free Wi-Fi.

• Tel: (+84) 283 8375 570
• Price: VND 110,000
• Departs every 30 minutes from Ho Chi Minh city
• Duration: 4 – 4.5 hours

+ Thanh Buoi Express bus: Provides nimble service to Can Tho because the bus only stops for a 10-minute break during the trip to Ho Chi Minh city.

• Tel: (+84)1900 6079
• Price: VND 110,000
• Departs every 30-45 minutes from Ho Chi Minh city
• Duration: 3.5 – 4 hours

+ Mai Linh Express bus: Another famous firm providing safe drive to Can Tho with a reasonable price.

• Tel: (+84) 7103 739.333
• Price: VND 90,000 – VND 100,000
• Departs every 2 hours from Ho Chi Minh city
• Duration: 4 hours