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This image is taken from Ninh Kieu Quay park, Can Tho City, Vietnam. It is one part of Basacc River (a branch of Mekong). Local people call it Song Hau. The con

Can Tho, Vietnam · City guide

Can Tho travel guide

The Mekong Delta's river capital: floating markets at dawn, a breezy riverfront promenade, old Chinese halls and orchards a short boat ride away.

Mekong DeltaFamilyFoodSenior-friendly

Updated

Photo: Hong Phuc Dang · CC BY-SA 4.0

Can Tho is the largest city of Vietnam's Mekong Delta, built on the Hau River, the main southern branch of the Mekong. It is a working river town rather than a monument city. The big draws are the wholesale floating markets at dawn, the riverfront at Ninh Kieu Wharf, a handful of old temples and houses, and the green canal-and-orchard country that begins within a few kilometres of the centre.

Administratively, Can Tho is one of Vietnam's centrally run cities. In June 2025 the National Assembly merged the neighbouring Hau Giang and Soc Trang provinces into it, so the city is now far larger on paper than the compact urban centre most visitors see. Older maps and guidebooks still describe the old Ninh Kieu district and its wards, which were reorganised in 2025. Street addresses usually still work as written.

For travellers from India, Can Tho suits a gentle, two-night add-on to Ho Chi Minh City, about 170 km away by road, rather than a trip in itself. Almost everything is flat. The pace is slow, the people are easy-going and the main effort is the early start for the markets. The climate is tropical, with a dry season from December to April and a wet season from May to November.

Food is river-delta cooking: fish, duck, tropical fruit and rice noodles. Strict vegetarians will find it harder than in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, but Vietnamese Buddhist vegetarian eateries, called com chay or quan chay, exist in the city and are the safest option. This guide names the ones we could check and is plain about how far that checking went.

Before you plan

Can Tho at a glance

Best months
December to March is the driest and…December to March is the driest and most comfortable window. April is hot. May to November is the wet season, wettest around September and October, when streets near the river can flood.
Ideal trip length
2 nights is enough for the floating…2 nights is enough for the floating market, the riverfront and the old quarter; 3 nights lets you add an orchard or canal day and Phong Dien.
Airport
Can Tho International AirportCan Tho International Airport (VCA), about 9 km north-west of the centre, but its listed flights are domestic only (for example Hanoi and Phu Quoc). Most visitors from India fly into Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and drive about 3 to 4 hours.
Railway station
NoneNone. Can Tho has no passenger railway. Buses and cars from Ho Chi Minh City are the normal way in.
Getting around
Taxis and ride-hailing apps for the cityTaxis and ride-hailing apps for the city, a hired car with driver for Cai Rang and the countryside, and small boats from Ninh Kieu Wharf for the floating markets. The centre is flat and partly walkable, but traffic is heavy at rush hour.
Daily budget
Roughly 1,500 to 3,500 rupees per…Roughly 1,500 to 3,500 rupees per person per day at mid-range hotels, local food and a shared boat. A private boat, car and a resort stay will push it well above that.
Senior comfort
Good for older travellers who can…Good for older travellers who can step into a boat. Sights are flat, but the dawn boat start, heat and humidity are the main demands. Dry-season months are kindest.
Language
VietnameseVietnamese. English is limited outside hotels and tour operators; a translation app and hotel-written address cards help.

Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.

Best time to visit Can Tho: January, February, March. Month-by-month weather →

How to reach Can Tho by air, train and road →

How many days do you have?

Can Tho itinerary

One good day

1 day in Can Tho

Leave Ninh Kieu Wharf by boat or drive to the Cai Rang market early, ideally between 6 and 8 am, when trading is busiest. Return for a late breakfast and a rest. In the later afternoon visit Ong Pagoda on Hai Ba Trung Street, then stroll the Ninh Kieu riverfront as the heat drops and have dinner nearby.

Ong Pagoda
Day-by-day plan →

Two days

2 days in Can Tho

Take an early boat to Cai Rang floating market, then return for breakfast and rest. In the afternoon, once the heat eases, visit Binh Thuy ancient house by car and Ong Pagoda. End at the Ninh Kieu waterfront.

Cai Rang Floating MarketBinh Thuy Ancient HouseOng PagodaPhong Dien Floating MarketCan Tho Bridge
Day-by-day plan →

Three unhurried days

3 days in Can Tho

Travel from Ho Chi Minh City by car or coach in the morning, check in, rest, and walk the Ninh Kieu riverfront in the evening.

Cai Rang Floating MarketOng PagodaPhong Dien Floating Market
Day-by-day plan →

See the day-by-day Can Tho itinerary →

The places that explain Can Tho.

Places to visit in Can Tho

Places to visit · 4 guides

What and where to eat in Can Tho.

Food to try in Can Tho

Food and restaurants · 2 guides

Can Tho's food is built on the river: fish, duck, prawns, rice noodles and a long list of tropical fruit from the surrounding orchards. A local dish worth knowing is the Xuan Khanh hot pot alley, a lane of small restaurants serving do-it-yourself hot pots with duck, seafood or fish broths plus vegetables; it is not suitable for vegetarians.

Vegetarian and Jain diners should plan, not improvise. Vietnam has a Buddhist vegetarian tradition, and shops called com chay, quan chay or nha hang chay serve meat-free food, often with mock meat made from tofu and mushrooms. Signs saying chay mean vegetarian; mon man means non-vegetarian. Fish sauce is the default seasoning almost everywhere else, so say "an chay" (vegetarian) when ordering and ask whether the broth contains fish sauce.

We could confirm one fully plant-based restaurant: Ngon Vegan Bistro and Cafe on Hai Ba Trung Street, which states on its own site that it uses no egg or dairy. HappyCow lists several other chay places in the city, including Quan Chay An, Bach Thao and Chay Sen Vang 2, but their listings mix vegetarian and vegan descriptions, mention eggs or dairy in places, and were not recently updated, so we have not tagged them. There are no Jain restaurants we could verify, and we found no Indian restaurant that we could verify as open. Jain travellers should ask hotels in advance, and carry dry snacks.

Markets, makers and what to take home.

Shopping in Can Tho

Shopping

Shopping in Can Tho is about fruit, snacks and small craft rather than big souvenirs. The Ninh Kieu riverside area and the night market streets near it sell souvenirs, dried fruit and sweets, and bargaining is expected. Morning markets such as Xuan Khanh sell local fruit. Buy fresh fruit in small amounts, since it spoils quickly in the heat, and carry cash in small notes for boats and stalls.

Where Can Tho makes, performs and gathers.

Culture and crafts in Can Tho

Culture and craft · 1 guide

Hotels that shape the trip, not just the night.

Where to stay in Can Tho

Hotels and stays · 1 guide

The areas to compare: Ninh Kieu riverfront, Riverside resort on the Hau River, Xuan Khanh and Mau Than area. We have written up 1 hotel, with price bands and what suits older travellers.

Where to stay in Can ThoCompare hotels in Can Tho

Affiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices are live on the partner site.

Living places of faith — visit with respect.

Temples and places of worship in Can Tho

Places of worship · 1 guide

Choose without overthinking

Which Can Tho experience is right for your trip?

Most plans get crowded because nobody is willing to choose. These comparisons make the trade-offs clear.

Cai Rang or Phong Dien floating market?

Cai Rang is the larger wholesale market and is closer to the city, so it suits most first-time visitors. Phong Dien is smaller and more retail, quieter and further out, and works better as a second morning.

A boat from the wharf or a car to a market jetty?

A boat from Ninh Kieu Wharf is simplest and shows river life along the way, but takes longer. A car to a nearer jetty cuts the time on the water, which may suit those who tire easily.

City hotel or riverside resort?

A city hotel near Ninh Kieu puts restaurants and the waterfront within walking distance. A riverside resort is quieter and greener, but you depend on transfers for meals and the early boat.

Map

Open in Google Maps →

Know before you go

Can Tho travel tips

  1. 01

    Dawn start

    Floating markets are busiest in the early morning and thin out after about 8 am. Book the boat the day before and plan a rest at midday.

  2. 02

    Heat and rain

    Highs reach the low 30s Celsius all year. From May to November expect afternoon downpours; carry a light rain jacket and a small waterproof pouch for phones.

  3. 03

    Getting around

    Use metered taxis or ride-hailing apps in the city, and agree prices for boats and cars before starting. Have your hotel write the destination in Vietnamese.

  4. 04

    Money

    Vietnam uses the dong. Carry small notes for boats, stalls and pagodas, and check current exchange rates; cards are accepted in hotels and larger restaurants.

  5. 05

    Dress

    Light, loose cotton clothes suit the climate. Cover shoulders and knees in temples and pagodas and remove shoes where asked.

  6. 06

    Food and water

    Drink bottled or boiled water and be cautious with ice and raw salads. Vegetarians should say an chay and check for fish sauce.

  7. 07

    Photography

    Ask before photographing vendors at close range, and keep phones and cameras secure on boats.

  8. 08

    Flood season

    September and October are the wettest months, and high tides can flood low streets. Ask your hotel about conditions before an early trip.

Can Tho with elderly parents: what to know

  • Book a boat to Cai Rang the evening before and ask the hotel to confirm a time. Boarding from the wharf steps can be slippery, so wear shoes with a grip and ask the crew for a hand.
  • Dawn is cool, but by 10 am the humidity builds. Be back for breakfast and a rest by then, and keep the afternoon for gentle indoor or shaded stops.
Can Tho with parents: full guideAdd concierge support

Day trips from Can Tho

Ho Chi Minh CityAbout 170 km by road; roughly 3 to 4 hours by car or coachThe usual arrival point from India. See the Ho Chi Minh City guide for full coverage.
Phu QuocA short flight from Can Tho airport, or a longer ferry-and-road journeyAn island with beaches, reached by a direct domestic flight on some carriers. See the Phu Quoc guide for details.
Vinh Long and the Mekong countrysideAcross the Can Tho BridgeThe bridge links Can Tho with Vinh Long province, with its orchards and canals, which suit a half-day village or fruit-garden visit.

Useful answers

Can Tho FAQs

How many days do you need in Can Tho?

Two nights is enough for the Cai Rang floating market, the riverfront and the old quarter. Three nights lets you add Phong Dien and an orchard or canal visit at an easier pace.

What is the best time to visit Can Tho?

December to March is the driest and most pleasant time. April is hot, and May to November is the wet season, wettest around September and October.

Do Indian passport holders need a visa for Vietnam?

Indian citizens are not on the visa-exemption list for ordinary passports as of the sources checked, so a visa is generally needed, and Vietnam issues e-visas. Rules and fees change, so check the official Vietnamese immigration source before booking.

Is Can Tho good for vegetarians?

It is manageable with planning. Vietnamese Buddhist vegetarian eateries called com chay or quan chay serve meat-free food, but fish sauce is common elsewhere. Jain food is not easy to find, so ask hotels in advance.

Are there direct flights from India to Can Tho?

We found no international flights listed at Can Tho airport. Most travellers from India reach Ho Chi Minh City first and continue by road or on a domestic flight; check current schedules before booking.

Related guides

Sources and further reading

Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.

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