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Can Tho

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Can Tho (or Cantho; Vietnamese: Cần Thơ) is a relatively large city in the heart of the Mekong Delta, in Vietnam.

[edit] Understand

Can Tho has a reputation for being a welcoming place, where everybody is smiling and welcoming. Indeed the Vietnamese in the Mekong Delta are making good a saying that goes:

"Cần Thơ gạo trắng nước trong
Ai đi tới đó lòng không muốn về"

"Cần Thơ, white rice, clear waters,
All who come wish never to leave."

Can Tho has a population well in excess of 1 million and is the biggest city in the Mekong Delta. Although developing fast (about 10% growth in 2004), it retains its charm as the center of a rural area, as urban development is taking place in a rather orderly manner.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By road

By road, allow about 1.5 hours from Sóc Trăng, about 3 hours from Châu Đốc, about 3.5 hours from Rạch Giá (80,000 Dong in sept 2011), less than 4 hours from Ho Chi Minh City (170 km, 90,000 dong), about 6 hours from Cà Mau and about 1.5 hours from Long Xuyen.

If you arrive to Ho Chi Minh late, you can take a taxi or hire a private car. It is possible to rent a car for US$120-150 for a one-way trip (or return trip in the same day) for 2-3 passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho;[YourLocalBooking][1] provide car rental online or move by local minibus, which offer better and better services; for about US$5-8, and departing every half hour or so, 24/7 from the Ho Chi Minh City western bus station (Bến Xe Miền Tây, Xa Cảng). Other, more local buses from Sai Gon to Can Tho leave in the morning.

There are many buses and minibuses plying the route. Phuong Trang company is offering a more comfortable service providing a large coach with room for luggage and waiting lounge in the bus station. Price is a bit lower than "express" minibuses that are only few minutes faster indeed. They too depart either way about every half hour, all day and night.

Mai Linh company is a good reputation as operators of buses and taxis. Mai Linh express buses - a little more expensive but they don't pack as many people in and they run on schedule with little complication. Take Taxi to Le Hong Phong st, D10 office to get MaiLinh coach tickets(tell Taxi driver, he knows) or go straight to Mien Tay bus station D 6. (taxi from D1) cost US$8. From Here you can choose Mailinh or Phuong Trang bus both good services and see if any schedule is closer to your time. Get ticket 100,000 VND = 5bucks to go to can Tho bus station after 4hrs drive with one rest stop half way in Caibe. They are leaving every one or 02 hrs.

Practice the words "Can Tho" and you probably won't need more. Only keep an eye on your bus (the number especially) during the 1/2 hour pit stop half way, as you may have to find your bus among other identical buses.

When the bus arrive Can tho, the driver announced "Can Tho". The Can Tho bus station is quite large and should be easy to tell you're there and the ferry terminal is a close 2 minute walk. A good map is priceless. I would say a do it yourself trip is much better than being rushed from place to place with a group

It is also possible to rent a taxi for about almost the same price as a car for 1 way from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho. Try hiring a Vinasun Taxi outside of the tourist areas (District 1) for this kind of traveling, you will be surprised about the rate differences a trip outside of district makes.

[edit] By boat

Apart from cruises (with night onboard) like the Bassac boats, there is no more regular boat transportation to Can Tho. As the time necessary for a car trip from HCMC as been reduced to less than 4 hours with the opening of the Can Tho bridge and the motorway around HCMC, there is no reason for a speed boat service anymore.

[edit] By air

Trà Nóc Airport now has a vast international terminal with convenient facilities.

As of 2011, the airport is connected to Hanoi, Phu Quoc with flights on Vietnam Airlines and Con Dao with flights on Mekong Air.

[edit] Get around

Can Tho is a regional hub, so it is rather easy to get to and from all the surrounding provinces.

  • by bus or minibus, from the bus station, formerly located at the crossroads of Nguyen Trai (Nguyễn Trãi) and CMT8 (Cách Mạng Tháng 8), but now relocated to 91B 3/2 (Chín mươi mốt B Ba tháng hai)
  • by boat, there are rather affordable services of speedboat
  • on foot (đi bộ)

[edit][add listing] See

  • The Khmer pagoda of Munirangsyaram, on Hoà Bình street, where you will always be welcome.

[edit] Local markets

The main market of Can Tho used to be an open market located on Ninh Kiều pier. Today, the only original building left is the beautiful old market hall, now surrounded with a garden along the river.

New markets on Cái Khế peninsula and further upstream the Can Tho river have been built to host the increasing activity.

[edit] Floating markets

The floating markets are a very lively scene, accommodating much of the goods exchange throughout the area, and can be quite freely visited on board smaller boats for about US$3/hour per boat. You may take a tour from the Ninh Kiều pier, in front of Nam Bộ restaurant, where the "boat ladies" are charmingly eager to welcome you aboard. On sep 2011, starting prices is about 10$/20$ for 3h/7h tour with either one market + canal, either multiples markets + canal. It could be bargained down 7$/15$. Pay attention as there is an old pushy lady haunting riverside to sell boat tour. Best to get your tour directly from a boat driver.

  • Cai Rang (Cái Răng) floating market is the main wholesale floating market near Can Tho. Go there early (as early as 06:00), and come back through the small tributaries to Can Tho river; about 3-4 hours. The Mystic sampans offer higher-end breakfast cruises to Cai Rang floating market.
  • Phong Dien (Phong Điền) is further upstream the Can Tho river, and worth seeing as it is a retail market. It is very active at dawn, but slows down early too, so you may want to go there by land. The arroyos back to Can Tho are also very much worth a ride on a small boat.
  • Phung Hiep (Phụng Hiệp) is much farther away, in the neighboring Hậu Giang province, but deserves a trip if you are going to stay more than a few days, as it is always bustling with activity.
  • Tra On (Trà Ôn), in Vinh Long province, is just over an hour downstream the Bassac (the lower Mekong branch, also called Hậu Giang or Sông Hậu). It is a small floating village's market anchored near the clouds' island (Cù Lao Mây).

[edit] Canals

The canal system around Can Tho is a fascinating travel network, much more relaxed than the bustling roads. Hire a small row boat (probably with a small diesel motor as well) that can take you through the small canals that the larger tour boats can't navigate. Tours from 6am to 2pm, including two floating markets and various sites along the canals, can be found for under 250,000 dong per person. Talk to Can Tho Tourist (on the corner near the Ho Chi Minh statue) to get an idea of the prices, but it's a bit more expensive than making your own arrangements. Ask around at the river front and make sure to negotiate the price!

[edit][add listing] Do

  • Bassac cruises (discovery overnight cruises through the Mekong delta on board classic wooden boats), 144 Hai Bà Trưng, Cần Thơ (Moored right in front of the old market hall; office on the street, facing the market hall), ☎ +84 (0)710 382 9540 (, fax: +84 (0)710 382 9541), [2]. The Bassac wooden cruisers run regular overnight trips between Can Tho and Cái Bè, but also to Châu Đốc and the frontier, and provide high-end services including non-stop air-con and all meals cooked on board. $200+.  edit
  • Mekong Eyes cruise [3] The Mekong Eyes combines regional boat-building traditions with modern comforts. Cruising CaiBe- Can Tho 100km, 9 hours
  • Mystic sampans, in the old Market hall, Hai Bà Trưng, Q. Ninh Kiều (on the river side of the old market hall, right on the Ninh Kiều pier, ask the Sao Hôm restaurant), ☎ 0710 381 5616 (), [4]. The Mystic sampans offer breakfast cruises on the floating markets; meals and sunset cruises on the river, and combine very well with cycling tours. $25+.  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

There are many supermarkets in Can Tho such as : Coopmart (Hoa Binh Street), Metro Hung Loi (91B)[you need a special registration card to shop here], Citymart (closed for renovation), Maximark, Vinatex Plaza...

Can Tho main market at Cái Khế is a very typical and colorful place to buy authentic Vietnamese goods.

The old market hall offers some choice of souvenirs and finer handicraft. Some are well displayed, others are in the middle of the smaller booths. Prefer the booths with fixed prices.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Can Tho is famous for delicate cuisine and extra-fresh fruit and vegetables, and a good place to try and eat the fruit you would not usually like: you may well find they are very tasty and enjoyable.

Among the local produce, you may like to try mangoes, oranges, jackfruit, pomeloes, grapefruit, but also custard apple, corossol, longans or even durian.

  • Nam Bo (Nam Bộ), 1 Ngô Quyền (right in the middle of the Ninh Kiều pier, near the statue of Uncle Ho), ☎ 0710 382 3908 (), [5]. 06:00 - 23:00. Seated a classic building facing the river, the Nam Bộ serves very tasty Vietnamese as well as some Western cuisine such as pizza and spaghetti. The service is nice and efficient, and a surprising variety of languages is spoken there, from English to French to Dutch and even some Japanese.  edit
  • Sao Hom (Sao Hôm), in the old market hall, facing the river (When on the Ninh Kiều pier, follow the pier with the river to your left hand, you cannot miss), ☎ 0710 381 5616 (), [6]. 06:00 - 23:00. Located in the central market's hall, facing the Can Tho river, the Sao Hôm serves a large palette of Vietnamese cuisine, as well as some western food, too. The ambiance at night is unique.  edit
  • l'Escale (the Port of Call), 1 Ngô Quyền, 4th floor (right in the middle of Ninh Kiều pier, on the top floor of the Nam Bộ Boutique Hotel), ☎ 0710 381 9139 (), [7]. 06:00 - 22:30. l'Escale is a fine restaurant with a view to the river and the bus boat wharf, with a bar and a wine cellar.  edit
  • Phở Cali, Trần Văn Kéo Street (close to the central market in front of the Exhibition Centre and the Citimart supermarket).  edit
  • Café Hợp Phố (Ngô Gia Tự, close to Nink Kiều peer) and Café Thủy Mộc (3/2 street, in front of the Foreign Languages Center at the Campus 2 of Can Tho univerisity) offer quiet places in a green and nature atmosphere. Lot of drinks and meals available at good prices for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
  • Gony Spa Cafe Lounge, Nguyen (close to Ninh Kieu pier). Offers a variety of food including pizza, pasta, beefsteak as well as local food. It also offers different shakes, smoothies, coffee and ice cream.  edit

Some restaurants more aimed at serving vietnamese guests but that can offers a more exotic and delightful experience to foreigners have recently appeared. The Alô 100 on CMT8 road not far from the ferry (Đường Cách Mạng Tháng 8) provide a nice environment, varied meals and affordable prices for a service that is still improving.

  • Goat Specialties (Lẩu Dê Thanh Thuý) is a little aside of the city, and run by a French person who settled in Can Tho who offers a variety of dishes revolving around savory goat meet.

There are also a variety of other restaurants, the quality and service of which spans the whole range from poor to great.

  • Dog meat (Thịt cầy Trần Văn Hoài), ngon hết biết !!!
  • Duck soup (Vịt nấu chao Hẻm 1), ngon hết sảy !!!

[edit][add listing] Drink

Vietnamese people typically enjoy a coffee (strong, with lots of condensed milk and ice), fresh coconut juice, and fruit drinks (lemonade, orange juice, etc.) in one of the many small stalls along the streets or in the markets.

If you want to spend a few hours like a Vietnamese, the best places are located on the river, with the most famous ones near Ninh Kiều pier. Just in front of the three-star Ninh Kiều hotel is a popular and affordable place, which is sometime crowded, especially when students get out of school for the day.

A nice family owned and operated cafe, known as "Cafe Buu Dien" (Post Office Cafe) serves the best coffees and has an interesting atmosphere. The servers holler your orders to the back, and in a couple of minutes you get fresh coffee in a warm mug. Its extremely fast paced, but at the same time very relaxing. They have locations throughout Can Tho, but hop on any xich lo or taxi and just tell them to take you to a "Cafe Buu Dien" and they'll know where to go. My favorite location is the one in Cai Khe ward, known as "Cafe Bich Phuong".

The nightlife in Can Tho is not as vibrant as Ho Chi Minh City but it is not as "bottle service" centric as HCMC either. Can Tho clubs usually hire famouse Vietnamese singers to perform live in their venues and feature go go dancers on regular night. Drink price is usually 50,000 VND for a bottle of beer, around 1m for a bottle of cheap vodka and more for expensive cognac/whiskey such as Hennessy VSOP/XO.

[edit] Clubs

  • XK club [8], 108B Tran Van Kheo St, Ninh Kieu District. Nice red-black decor with banging sound system but quite small therefore more secure and chill than other clubs. Pretty and friendly go go dancers.
  • Xe Loi Club, Hau Riverside Park, Bai Cat Zone, Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District. The place to be on weekend, spacious club, good lighting/sound system with laser to boost. Open until 3 AM with the most fun happening from 11PM till 2 AM. Mixed youthful and energetic but can be quite sketchy crowd.
  • Golf Club, Golf Hotel near Ninh Kieu pier and the Central Bank. Quite upscale club with many business men preferring this place to chill out on the weekend.

[edit] Bars

  • Cafe Bar Eden, Le Loi St. Good for couples
  • Cafe Billard At Chuan, Le Loi St (Lê Lợi). Invovled MC and DJ.
  • Cafe Bar Black And White, Le Loi St. Same as Eden.
  • Wild Horse, Le Loi St. Classicism and Impressionism decor with good selection of wine. Closed as of October 2010
  • l'Escale (the Port of Call), 1 Ngô Quyền, top floor, ☎ 0710 381 9139 (). 06:00 - 22:30. Jazz bar and lounge overlooking the river, l'Escale has a wine cellar.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There is a wide range of services, from the very local KS Tây Hồ (on Ninh Kiều pier, a good choice for US$12-15), to the state-owned (and state-like) International Hotel, US$25-35, to the recent and more elaborate Ninh Kiều 2 Hotel, on Hòa Bình street, owned by a military company.

Beware the giant, neon, Chinese-style riverside hotels. They come with pounding karaoke and slippery staff. In particular, avoid the Golf Hotel. The spa staff demand inflated tips then block your exit - extortion.

[edit] Budget

  • Hotel Xoai, 93 Mau Than, Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho City, Vietnam (Just around the corner of Cantho University main campus and opposite Quang Duc Pagoda in the heart of the city.), ☎ +84 (0) 939871001 (), [9]. checkin: 2pm; checkout: 12pm. Newly opened budget mini-hotel with young and friendly atmosphere. 23 compact rooms with double beds, a private bathroom with shower and toilet, fan and air condition. All rooms have windows with views to the University or Pagoda. Free wifi throughout the hotel. On the roof terrace guests can relax in a cosy cafe. US$8-12. (10.031389,105.775000) edit
  • Hello 2 Hotel, 31 Chau van Liem Street, Ninh Kieu dist (Close to Ninh Kieu Quay), ☎ 0913 764 994. (Formerly Green Hotel) Friendly and comfortable. Here, you can relax and take care of your health for spa, massage, bar and drink coffee. US$15-25. (10.030958,105.78616515) edit
  • Spring Hotel, 22 Khu Dan Cu So9 Duong 30/4 (Ninh Kieu district), ☎ 0710 3839723 (), [10]. Very clean and friendly place. Rooms maintained and bed sheet changed daily during stay. Enjoy meals any time you want at the nice sitting area by the big windows on each floor. Try their coffee. The only downside is distance from the river (40mins on foot) but free bikes to ride around as well as motorbike rental. Staff are genuinely nice. Free wifi. USD$22/18/14.  edit
  • 31 Restaurant, 31 Ngo Duc Ke, ☎ 07103825287. checkin: 12pm. One of several cheap and simple places in this road. If you're looking for a budget place to stay, you can be sure to find something here or nearby. Good wifi at reception, but not working in all rooms (most notably back ones). Avoid booking bus there as it seems a lot more expensive US$6.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

  • Kim Thơ. 3-star hotel that is clean, cosy, relatively new and located in a quiet street (Ngô Gia Tự) not far from the speed boat pier.  edit

[edit] Splurge

  • Nam Bộ Boutique Hotel (7-suite classic hotel right on the pier, with cozy accommodation and caring service), 1 Ngô Quyền, Ninh Kiều, Cần Thơ (Right in the middle of the Ninh Kiều pier, facing the river), ☎ +84 (0)710 381 9139 (), [11]. The Nam Bộ Boutique Hotel has one of the finest diners in town, quiet and overlooking the river, l'Escale. $100+.  edit
  • Victoria Can Tho, ☎ 71.810111 (fax: 71.829259), [12]. Luxury resort on Cái Khế island, including a swimming pool, a spa, a ballroom, and a rice barge for a scenic breakfast, lunch or dinner. Rooms from US$108, river view suites from US$175.  edit

[edit] Get out

From Can Tho you can easily reach other peaceful cities of the Mekong Delta such as Sóc Trăng, Châu Đốc, Sa Đéc Rạch Giá and Cà Mau. If you are heading to the north from the main bus station be careful about what ticket you buy. If you are going with a mini bus and your destination is not directly on the route to Ho Chi Min City they might just drop you off somewhere. You will have to buy another ticket and end up paying way to much. You can reach Vinh Long from bus inside town, on Vo Van Lang street near HSBC bank and 5mn walk of Hotel Restaurant 31. Price is about 50,000 Dong for 1h30 trip. Can Tho to Phrom Penh From Can Tho to Chau Doc, you can take PHUOC SANH, KIM NGAN local bus, which run hourly. It costs only 60,000 VND/ 1 ticket (3 USD) unless it's gone up recently. The only way to get to Phnom Penh from Can Tho is take local bus from Can Tho to Chau Doc, stay overnight there. You can take PHUOC SANH, KIM NGAN local bus from Can Tho to Chau Doc, which run hourly. It costs only 60,000 VND/ 1 ticket (3 USD) unless it's gone up recently. Next day, you take Hang Chau Express boat to Phnom Penh (from Can Tho). It cost 24 USD for 1 ticket and 23 USD for 1 visa to Cambodia. Another option is you return to Ho Chi Minh and get a bus (takes 6 hours) or flight (1 hour).

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!

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