Can Tho Tour - Floating Markets, Waterway Tours & MICE Events

Can Tho is the vibrant heart of Vietnam's Mekong Delta, with cultural experiences, natural beauty, and foodie heaven that all combine to make any traveler proud to visit the city. Known for interesting floating markets, complex canal systems, and dense fruit orchards, Can Tho provides a glimpse into the daily lives of people of the Mekong Delta.

Can Tho is not that well known among foreign travellers who skip it and mostly travel to big cities like Da nang, Ho chi minh, Hanoi etc. We highly recommend you spend at the very least 2 days in Can Tho, you won’t regret it!

Floating Markets Exploration

No visit to Can Tho is complete without an exploration of the city's famous floating markets, which celebrate commerce atop the waterways.

Cai Rang Floating Market

This largest and most famous floating market of the Mekong Delta wakes up every morning. Vendors on boats with fresh produce, local delicacies, and handicrafts weave a kaleidoscope of colors and sounds. To catch the sights and sounds of this place in full action, one has to reach there as early as 5:00 AM. Many tours leave early in the morning so that guests can be taken through such sights thoroughly.

Phong Dien Floating Market

Phong Dien is less crowded and touristy. Closer to the local trading, smaller in size compared to Cai Rang, this site allows visits in a quiet environment, observing the local art of buying and selling. Visits to both give a comprehensive understanding of the region's floating commerce.

Canal Exploration

Other than the markets, Can Tho has a vast network of canals and waterways inviting exploration.

Small Canal Tours

Sailing through the narrow canals aboard a sampan, the traveler can enter a world of peaceful landscapes of stilt houses, much greenery, and villages. Most of the tours will involve stops at traditional rice noodle houses, which allow insight into the culinary ways of the locals.

Sunset Cruises

In the evening, this takes another dimension with the sun setting over the waterways. Some tours combine sunset cruises with either local fruit gardens or cultural shows for a fuller experience. If you are travelling as a couple then cancel out everything else and just do a sunset boat tour in Can tho canal, thank us later :)

Cultural & Historical Attractions

The rich tapestry that is the culture in Can Tho is exemplified by its temples, museums, and traditional villages. Once you have finished boat tours and still have time, try out one of these or all of them!

Ong Pagoda

It was built in the 19th century and is dedicated to the deity Quan Cong; this temple is incredibly elaborate architectural and colors altars wonderfully, mirroring the spiritual heritage of the locals.

Can Tho Museum

The museum covers more than 5,000 exhibits that tell about the history, culture, and ethnography of the region, which makes it a must-see for history buffs (Google Maps link).

Ba Bo Flower Village

Not far from the city center, it colours up to riot especially on Lunar New Year occasions, with enormous stretches of flowers and ornamental flora. This is the best place for photography and going on an escapade of local horticulture.

Gastronomic Delights

The cuisine of Can Tho shows all the richness of the Mekong Delta: fresh ingredients and strange flavors.

Special Dishes

Among the most popular dishes are "Banh Cong" and "Banh Xeo" (deep-fried shrimp cake). The best places where one can try these delicacies are street food stalls and local markets.

Fruit Orchards

Rich soils nurture a great variety of tropical fruits. Visiting a fruit orchard is a great opportunity for travelers to taste durian, mangosteen, and rambutan right from the tree.

Practical Information

Best Time to Visit

The dry season, which falls between December and April, is quite pleasant weather, with ideal conditions for boat tours.

How to Get There

Travelers can go directly to Can Tho (Google map link) by flying from any major cities in Vietnam like Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi. Getting there by bus is also easy and quite interesting while traveling through the Delta.

Accommodations

All categories of hotels-from high-class to low-budget-are available. The area near Ninh Kieu Wharf (maps link) provides the best access to several places, and being near the riverside is quite beautiful.

Travel Tips

Day Early

Most of the attractions in Can Tho, at least the floating market, should be observed in the early morning. This early schedule will guarantee witnessing such sights in their busiest times plus you can avoid the humid heat of afternoon.

Local Guides

Traveling with local guides might enrich the experience because these guides know everything about culture, history, and everyday life in the region. Guides will make talking with locals more meaningful because the tourists will understand exactly what people are referring to.

While visiting any of the religious sites, dressing accordingly and respecting the local etiquettes concerning the rich cultural traditions is due. A warm interaction with the people there will enhance interaction among them.

Why should you visit Can Tho?

Because Can Tho is not a tourist trap like some of the hot spot areas of Ho chi minh or Hanoi. From the frenetic bustle of its floating markets to the serenity of its canals and centers of culture, one can rightly expect that a tour to Can Tho would be a complete journey into the heart of southern Vietnam.

We feel if you are someone who wants to do something else compared to most travelers who are coming to Vietnam, then include Can Tho in your Vietnam itinerary of 2025!