Can Tho in a nutshell
Can Tho lies on the Hau River, one of the branches of the Mekong. The national tourism organization lists river islands, sampan rides, fruit orchards and the Cai Rang floating market as the main reasons to come. Most visitors spend a night or two here, take a boat out in the early morning and walk the riverfront promenade at Ninh Kieu in the evening.
The city has changed on paper. Since the provincial reform of 2025, the city administration also covers the former Hau Giang and Soc Trang, so older statistics for "Can Tho" no longer describe the same area. This guide sticks to practical things: where the market is, how to get there, what tours cover and what to check before you book. It is an independent guide with no connection to the city authorities or to any boat, bus or tour operator.
What to know before you go
Four points where older guides and photos can mislead you.
Cai Rang is quieter than the photos
Press reports from February 2026 describe trade moving to the road, plus complaints about prices, touts and hygiene. Go for the boats and the early light, not for a crowd, and ask how your trip is organized.
Cai Rang floating market →Ben Tre is a region now
Ben Tre was merged with Tra Vinh and Vinh Long into Vinh Long province on 1 July 2025. The name still works for the coconut country south of My Tho, and it is a common day trip.
Ben Tre day trip →Rain and high water
The national tourism organization puts the drier boating season at December to April and the rainy season at May to November. On 14 September 2026 the Can Tho police reported street flooding in Binh Thuy district, together with roadworks. Check the forecast before you go.
Mekong Delta guide →The way in
Buses and limousine vans run from Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho has an airport with domestic connections. Travel times quoted by different sources range from about 2.5 to 4 hours by road.
From Ho Chi Minh City →Our picks: Mekong tours
A small-group morning in Can Tho, a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City and a private boat tour in Ben Tre.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private river and mangrove boat tour in Ben Tre
Three hours by boat and sampan with coconut water, an English-speaking guide and entry, plus an optional bike.
Check availability →
Floating market and Mekong heritage by sampan
A noodle soup breakfast, traditional drinks, fruit, a cake-making stop and an English-speaking guide, for about six people. Personal expenses and tips are extra, and there is no hotel pickup.
Check availability →
Mekong Delta day trip with My Tho and Ben Tre
Nine hours with pickup in districts 1, 3 and 4, an air-conditioned bus, a guide, a bike ride, boat rides and lunch. Other drinks and tips are extra.
Check availability →Can Tho and Mekong Delta tours
Floating market trips, delta day tours from Ho Chi Minh City and overnight options, with live prices and availability.
Plan your trip
Pick a topic and go deeper.
The Mekong Delta
My Tho, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, Can Tho and Chau Doc compared, with travel times.
Cai Rang floating market
When to go, what a boat trip costs, and an honest look at how the market has changed.
Mekong Delta tours compared
Day trips and two-day tours from Ho Chi Minh City, side by side.
Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho
Bus, limousine van, day trip and the airport.
Ben Tre
Coconut candy workshops and canals in the coconut country.
Where to stay in Can Tho
Riverfront, center or an orchard homestay: which area suits your plan.
In and around Can Tho
Ninh Kieu is the part of town most visitors know first. The park and promenade sit where the Hau River meets the Can Tho River, and Hai Ba Trung is the riverfront street. The local tourism database lists access around the clock. Many river tours start from the quay here, and it is the easiest place to find a boat and a coffee.
Outside the city, the delta is a patchwork of canals, orchards and small markets. Cai Rang is the best known water market near Can Tho, and a day trip to My Tho and Ben Tre shows a different side of the delta, with coconut workshops and small canals. These two outings do not overlap: a day trip to My Tho and Ben Tre does not include Cai Rang.
If you are building a longer trip through Vietnam, the delta pairs well with a beach stop. Phu Quoc is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, and Nha Trang is a beach city on the central coast. For another coconut and water-palm experience, see the basket boats of Cam Thanh near Hoi An.
Currency is the Vietnamese dong. Carry cash for small purchases and market stalls. Hotels, larger restaurants and tour operators often take international cards, but do not count on it at a floating market or a homestay. Before heading to a remote spot, withdraw extra cash in town.
Can Tho: frequently asked questions
Is the Cai Rang floating market still worth a visit?
It can be, with realistic expectations. Press reports in February 2026 describe a decline, with trade moving to the road and visitors complaining about prices and hygiene. The reports do not say it has closed. Go early, between 5:00 and 8:00 am, and see it as a boat ride past working vessels rather than a packed spectacle.
How do I get from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho?
By road. The national tourism organization says about 3 hours, one bus operator lists 4 hours, and a hotel quotes about 2.5 hours by car. The bus fare published by that operator is VND 195,000 (2026), but check the current price when you book. Details are on our Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho page.
When is the best time to visit?
The national tourism organization lists December to April as the drier season for boat trips and May to November as the rainy season. An older national climate table lists October as the wettest month on average. September to November is described as the high-water boating season around Chau Doc and Tra Su, which is not the same as flooding in Can Tho. Always check the forecast.
Do I need a visa for Vietnam?
It depends on your passport, and rules change, so check before you go. As of October 2026, German citizens can stay up to 45 days without a visa under a rule valid until 14 March 2028. Swiss citizens can stay up to 45 days between 15 August 2025 and 14 August 2028. Austrian citizens need a visa; the Austrian foreign ministry mentions an e-visa valid up to 90 days. The e-visa portal lists a fee of USD 25 for one entry and USD 50 for multiple entries.
Is Ben Tre still a province?
No. Since 1 July 2025 it is part of the enlarged Vinh Long province. People still use the name Ben Tre for the coconut country and its day trips. Read more on the Ben Tre page.
Is visitcantho.org an official tourism site?
No. It is an independent travel guide with no link to the Can Tho authorities, the national tourism organization or any boat, bus or tour operator.