Holiday in Cần Thơ

What makes Cần Thơ special as a destination?

Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta and the economic and cultural center of southern Vietnam. The city is located at the confluence of the Hau River (a main branch of the Mekong) and several canals that shape daily life — this is where the most authentic river life in Vietnam takes place, far from the tourist paths of Ho Chi Minh City. The Cai Rang Floating Market is the heart of a visit: Every morning from 5 AM, hundreds of boats gather on the river, loaded with tropical fruits, vegetables, rice, and noodle soup. Vendors hang their goods on long bamboo poles at the bow — this way, buyers can see from afar what is being offered. A sampan ride through the market hustle at sunrise is unforgettable. The smaller Phong Dien Floating Market, about 20 km southwest, is less touristy and offers an even more authentic experience. Here, farmers trade directly from boat to boat, and the market dissolves around 9 AM. The Mekong Delta is Vietnam's rice bowl — the region produces over half of Vietnam's rice. Boat trips through the narrow canals lead through endless rice fields, orchards (dragon fruit, durian, rambutan, longan), and small villages where traditional rural life has remained unchanged for generations. The Ninh Kieu promenade is Can Tho's social meeting point: In the evenings, locals and visitors stroll along the river, street vendors offer Banh Mi and fresh fruit shakes, and the illuminated Can Tho Bridge — one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in Southeast Asia — reflects in the water.