Originally known as Tay Do - the capital of the Southwest region more than a hundred years ago, Can Tho is one of the most attractive destinations in the South of Vietnam.
It will take a lot of time and energy to discover everything in Can Tho, therefore, we have filtered out the 18 best things to do in Can Tho to help simplify your trip to Can Tho.
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Things to do in Can Tho, Vietnam
1. Visiting Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market is perhaps the most unique attraction in Can Tho, Vietnam.
It was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2016, selected by Rough Guide Magazine (UK) as one of the 10 most impressive marketplaces in the world, and visited by the famous Gordon Ramsay. Therefore, dropping by the Cai Rang Floating Market should be the first thing on the list of the best things to do in Can Tho.
Cai Rang floating market became the cultural identity of Can Tho due to its longstanding attachment to the life of locals here. This is the place where people sell the best dishes and fruits of Can Tho. So if you want to get all Can Tho specialties in just one place, then Cai Rang floating market is the place to go.
2. Coming To Con Son Can Tho
The next thing to do in Can Tho is enjoy the beauty of Con Son - a small island located in the middle of the Hau River with an area of 70 hectares (0.7 km2).
This place is naturally blessed with fresh fruit gardens and a diverse ecosystem of the Southern countryside.
3. Visit Binh Thuy Ancient House
Located at No. 142/144 Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thuy Ancient House in Can Tho is a unique ancient architectural work nearly 150 years old and still retains its ancient beauty.
It is a privately owned heritage of the Duong family and was the setting of many Vietnamese famous movies.
4. Walk Around Muoi Cuong Cocoa Garden
Muoi Cuong Cocoa Garden is famous for its total area of more than 1.2 hectares, with more than 15 varieties of cocoa, and a total of more than 2,000 roots.
When visiting the Muoi Cuong cocoa garden, visitors can watch the process of collecting and processing cocoa, and enjoy the taste of pure cocoa by drinking hot cocoa and eating fresh cocoa nuts. The garden also provides a wide range of cocoa products such as cocoa wine, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, etc.
5. Visit Ong Pagoda
Ong Pagoda Can Tho is a sacred pagoda in the Southwest region imbued with ancient Chinese architecture. The original name of the pagoda was Quang Trieu Assembly Hall - the Chinese assembly hall of the people from Guangzhou and Trieu Khanh, China.
The pagoda has stood for more than 120 years and was certified by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national historical and cultural relic in 1993, thus, a visit to Ong Pagoda is definitely one of the things to do in Can Tho.
6. Drop By Phong Dien Floating Market
If visiting Cai Rang is a recommended thing to do in Can Tho then dropping by Phong Dien Floating Market must also be on the list, as these two are the most typical floating market in Can Tho.
Phong Dien Floating Market sells many fruits such as plums, mangoes, rambutans, and star apples, and is a good check-in spot with a beautiful background.
7. Make Can Tho Rice Noodle (Hu Tieu)
Can Tho has many noodle shops with long-standing traditions, contributing to the maintenance and development of the signature Hu Tieu dish of the Southwest region. Visiting Hu Tieu factories in Can Tho is regarded by both locals and tourists as one of the must-do things in Can Tho, as they may get a chance to observe the making of Hu Tieu, and then try to make one themselves.
These places also serve Hu Tieu dishes such as Pizza Hu Tieu, seafood Hu Tieu, Nam Van Hu Tieu, and a wide range of souvenirs such as unique cakes and wine.
8. Exploring Bang Lang Stork Garden
Bang Lang Stork Garden is located in Thot Not district, Can Tho. It has a total area of 16,500 m2 and is home to more than 20 species of storks - an interesting place to visit in Can Tho for bird lovers.
9. Praying In Can Tho Truc Lam Zen Monastery
Can Tho Truc Lam Zen Monastery or Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery is one of the biggest Buddhist constructions in Can Tho City.
Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery in Can Tho captivates the hearts of visitors with its architecture, including a tiled roof structure, column frames using ironwood, brick walls, floors, and walkways paved with Chinese bricks.
10. Going To The Tay Do Night Market
Tay Do Night Market, or Can Tho Night Market, is located in the Western Cultural Park (Can Tho International Exhibition Fair). Is it not only a major trading center of the Southern provinces but also a popular Can Tho destination to drop by in Can Tho by night.
The market opens from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. every day, selling everything you can find when coming to Can Tho such as food, handicrafts, and clothes.
11. Visiting Can Tho Museum
Can Tho Museum is a place in Can Tho that preserves the heroic historical beauty of the Southern people. It has an area of nearly 3000m2 and displays artifacts about the people and land of Can Tho through the ages.
12. Visiting My Khanh Tourist Garden
My Khanh Can Tho tourist area is located about 10km from the city center. It is going to be your most entertaining place to go in Can Tho.
With a total area of more than 300,000 m2, My Khanh tourist area has many spots to visit such as fruit gardens, ancient houses, fish ponds, and many interesting games.
13. Visiting Ninh Kieu Wharf
Ninh Kieu Wharf is considered a cultural symbol of Tay Do Can Tho in Vietnam. It is associated with the image of boats coming and going in droves.
If you read any articles about attractions in Can Tho, you will at least hear about Ninh Kieu Wharf once as it is the departure point of many tourists planning to reach Cai Rang Floating Market and many other interesting tourist attractions along the river.
Now, the wharf has been upgraded into Ninh Kieu Park with a total area of up to 7,000m2.
14. Admiring The Can Tho Pedestrian Bridge
Ninh Kieu Bridge (Ninh Kieu Pedestrian Bridge, or Can Tho Bridge of Love) is 200m long and 7.2m wide and has an S shape representing the shape of Vietnam. It is the only attraction in Can Tho that gives you the full view of Can Tho City from the middle of the Hau River.
- If you visit Ninh Kieu Bridge early in the morning: This is the ideal time for you to watch the sunrise in Can Tho in the magical mist.
- In the late afternoon: Ninh Kieu Bridge will give you the clearest view of the beautiful sunset.
- In the evening: This is the time when you can fully admire the beauty of the city at night, enjoy the cool breeze from the river, and watch the sparkling lotus.
15. Exploring Can Tho Old Pagodas
Besides Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery, Can Tho City also has many other pagodas that have stood on this land for a very long time such as Pothisomron Khmer Pagoda (The oldest pagoda in Can Tho - 300 years old), Munir Ansay Khmer Pagoda, Quang Duc Pagoda, Nam Nha Pagoda, etc.
16. Visiting the Malayan Banyan Pergola Historical Relic Site
Malayan Banyan Pergola (Gian Gua) of Can Tho is a historical place in Can tho that witnessed the fierce struggles of the Vietnamese army during the war against the French invaders.
This relic site is considered “The pride of Can Tho” and become a tourist attraction with giant Malayan Banyan branches woven together like a net covering the sky.
17. Sunbathing On Can Tho Beach
Artificial beach in Can Tho (or Can Tho beach) is the name that locals call the area of sand stretching about 400m located at the confluence of Hau River and Can Tho River.
They poured about 1,000,000 square meters of sand to create a mud-free beach - the largest artificial freshwater beach in the Mekong Delta.
18. Walking Through The Ba Bo Flower Village
Ba Bo Flower Village is one of the most famous flower villages in the West - the largest flower supplier to neighboring provinces. It is only about 3km from the center of Can Tho City.
Ba Bo Flower Village has about 250 households growing flowers on a total area of up to 20 hectares, which makes it a paradise of flowers and one of the best photo spots in Can Tho.
Besides amazing Can Tho tourist attractions, Can Tho cuisine and weather are also important factors to consider the best time to visit Can Tho. Please check out below for more information!
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01 Comment
Gibraltar
I love the way the river is woven into everyday life in Can Tho. It also has some of the greenest landscapes. The people in Can Tho are so friendly and welcoming. I immediately felt at home.
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