Can Tho, Vietnam: Top 3 Things to Do and More
Can Tho is a small city just south of Ho Chi Minh (about 4 hours by bus). It’s a small town with very friendly people – a nice break from the chaos of Ho Chi Minh City. The reason we decided to come here was because we heard that this was the place to go if you want to see the famous floating market, Cai Rang, on the Mekong. For the past 30 years, the floating market has been a primary means of local food commerce, where everything from potatoes to fish are sold from small, simple boats. Boats indicate what they sell by casting a long pole up into the air, from which they hang a piece of produce, like a carrot.
In recent years, the number of boats has become fewer and fewer due to the pace of modernization and development in the country, namely advancements in transportation and infrastructure-people now buy their goods from markets and stores on land. I fear that in a matter of a few years, the floating market will be something that you can only read about in the history books, which is really a shame because it was something unique to witness.
We had the opportunity to check-out Sau Hoai S Rice Noodle Factory while on our tour of the Mekong and Cai Rang Floating Market. This part of Vietnam is known as the “Rice Bowl”. 80% of the people in this area cultivate rice, and Vietnam is the second largest exporter of this staple, behind Thailand. So of course, you’re going to find noodles made from rice. The coolest part was that the staff let you try your hand at making the rice noodle yourself. It’s a delicate and involved process that made you appreciate the work behind it.
The lady who steered our little boat took us down a stretch of the Mekong that was surrounding by greenery. It was a serene spot that served as a perfect romantic photo opp (@travelcouples_ featured our photo on Instagram). The woman who owned the boat also made us bracelets and rings made out of banana leaves to commemorate our recent marriage. One resembled a grasshopper and the other a rose. It was such a sweet gesture.
We’ve heard mixed reviews about longer boat rides down the Mekong. Many say that the Mekong is mostly littered with trash so it’s not worth the trip. Honestly, the half day boat trip did the trick for us, and I could see what people meant about the trash issues. It was sad sight to see the blanket of garbage that littered the edges of the Mekong.
You only need 2 nights here. You could even get away with only 1 night.
Getting Here
We took the FUTA Bus Line, which we highly recommend for its professionalism and condition of the buses. They also give you a bottle of water and a wet wipe. The booking process was easy – we booked a bus in Ho Chi Minh City at their store near Bui Vien Walking Street. The bus cost 250,000 VND ($10.75).
Accommodations
We stayed at Amazon 1 hostel, which I would recommend. We booked a private room; however there are also dorm room options. A cool feature of the hostel was that it had a little rooftop with lounge chairs where you could socialize. We paid 671,500 VND ($28.87).
The hostel conveniently books tours of the Cai Rang Floating Market and Sau Hoai S Rice Noodle Factory for you.
We used Booking.com for our accommodation – use our referral link so that you can get a $25 reward! https://www.booking.com/s/43_8/roxyba87
Top 3 Things to Do in Can Tho
1. Visit the Cai Rang Floating Market, Sau Hoai S Rice Noodle Factory, and Take a Little Boat Trip Down the Mekong – We paid about $40 for a package that included transportation to the boat, the boat to the floating market and rice noodle factory, an English-speaking guide, and breakfast. Most hotels will book the tour for you, and we were able to do so at Amazon 1. Pro Tip: make sure that you insist on a guide that speaks English well and that you don’t have a boat with a noisy motor. Unfortunately, our guide didn’t speak much, even though she knew English, so we had to probe her for information that she would quickly look up on her phone.
2. Visit the Night Market and Town Square – every night there is a night market near the Mekong River. It resembles more of a flea market where locals can purchase everything from socks to t-shirts. There is also a very lively town square that borders the river. It’s a nice spot to sit on a park bench and people watch. There’s also a towering statue of Ho Chi Minh at one end. Try a hot pot for dinner at any one of the restaurants in the area.
3. Go to the Iris Hotel Sky Bar – this place is only worth it for the views of the Mekong and town. Otherwise, the drinks are just okay and the prices are a bit higher. You’re paying for the view, but it’s worth it.
Our Key Takeaways and Tips
You don’t need to spend much time here to see what Can Tho has to offer. I wouldn’t spend more than 2 nights here to see the highlights.
- Book a tour package for:
- Cai Rang Floating Market
- Sau Hoai S Rice Noodle Factory
- Boat Trip Down the Mekong