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The epicentre of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is the largest city in the region and feels like a metropolis after a few days exploring the backwaters. As the political, economic, cultural and transportation centre of the Mekong Delta, it’s a buzzing town with a lively waterfront lined with sculpted gardens, an appealing blend of narrow backstreets and wide boulevards, and perhaps the greatest concentration of foreigners in the delta. It is also the perfect base for nearby floating markets, the major draw for tourists who come here to boat along the many canals and rivers leading out of town.
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Can Tho.
Market
The biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta, Cai Rang is 6km from Can Tho in the direction of Soc Trang. There's a bridge here that serves as a great vantage point for photography. The market is best around 6am to 7am, and it's well worth getting here early to beat the boatloads of tourists and the heat. This is a wholesale market, so look at what's tied to the long pole above the boat to see what they're selling.
Market
An intimate floating market, Phong Dien has more stand-up rowing boats than motorised craft, with local vendors shopping and exchanging gossip. Less crowded than Cai Rang, it has far fewer tourists and less activity. It's most bustling between 5am and 7am, with little to see later. The market is 20km southwest of Can Tho; get here by road or sign up for a six-hour combined Cai Rang–Phong Dien tour, returning to Can Tho through quiet backwaters.
Temple
In a fantastic location facing the Can Tho River and decorated with huge, constantly burning incense coils, this Chinese temple is set inside the Guangzhou Assembly Hall, and wandering through its fragrant, smoke-filled interior is very enjoyable. It was originally built in the late 19th century to worship Kuang Kung, a deity symbolising loyalty, justice, reason, intelligence, honour and courage, among other merits. Wait long enough and you'll see how the incense coils are lit and hung on long poles.
House
Dating from 1870, the Binh Thuy house was built by wealthy merchant Duong Chan Ky and extensively renovated in the French colonial style in the early 20th century. The interior of the house is very much original, with ornate hand-painted floor tiles, elaborate decorative wood carvings and huge floor-to-ceiling display cabinets. The house was a main location in the film adaptation of The Lover (L'Amant), directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud in 1992.
Buddhist Pagoda
Trying to hide down a quiet backstreet, but gloriously gilded in gold, this rare three-level Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagoda from 1948 contrasts sharply against the adjacent grey buildings. The carved, detailed wall patterns, painted columns, huge Buddha statue and city views from the balcony are all impressive. Its charitable pursuits include helping disadvantaged youths to study.
Museum
This large, well-presented museum brings local history to life with mannequins and life-size reproductions of buildings, including a Chinese pagoda and a house interior. Displays (with ample English translations) focus on the Khmer and Chinese communities, plant and fish specimens, rice production and, inevitably, various wars.
Buddhist Temple
This small golden pagoda was originally built in 1946 to serve Can Tho’s Khmer community. The ornamentation is typical of Khmer Theravada Buddhist pagodas, with none of the multiple Bodhisattvas and Taoist spirits common in Vietnamese Mahayana pagodas.