Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta, and most visitors come for one reason: the floating market. That is a good reason. It is also over by about 9 am, which leaves the rest of the day open.
This guide shows what to do in Can Tho morning, afternoon and evening, how to link the stops, and how to get there from Ho Chi Minh City. Distances and opening hours come from public sources and local listings. They change, so confirm anything you plan your day around.
Is Can Tho worth visiting beyond the floating market?
Yes, if you can stay one night. The market takes the first half of the morning. After that, Can Tho offers fruit orchards, an old family house, a small museum, a riverside promenade and a night market.
If you only have one day, the market and one orchard are enough. A tour handles that well because someone else arranges the boat and the timing. If you have two days, the sections below give you a fuller plan.
What can you do in Can Tho in the morning?
Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang is about 5 to 6 km from the city center, on the river near Cai Rang Bridge. It is a wholesale market where boats sell fruit, vegetables and other farm goods to traders and households. In 2016 it was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam.
Look for the long bamboo poles on the boats. Sellers hang samples of what they carry on poles 3 to 5 meters high, called cay beo. A boat with a pineapple on its pole sells pineapples. Nobody has to shout.
The market starts around 5 am, is busiest between about 6 and 8, and winds down by about 9. You see it properly only from the water. Boats leave from Ninh Kieu Wharf in the city center, and the ride takes roughly 30 to 40 minutes. Some people drive to a closer landing and take a shorter boat ride instead.
Local tip: The market is smaller than old photos suggest. Treat it as a working market, not a show, and you will enjoy it more. For a closer look at timing and costs, read our Cai Rang Floating Market guide.
Breakfast on a boat
Floating vendors sell breakfast to other boats and to visitors. Typical bowls are hu tieu, bun rieu and pho, with Vietnamese coffee on the side. Eating on a small boat is slow, a little wobbly and very local. We describe it in more detail in What It’s Like to Eat Breakfast on a Boat in Vietnam.
Phong Dien Floating Market
Phong Dien is smaller and quieter than Cai Rang. Sources put it roughly 15 to 20 km from the city center, and the figure varies with the route. You can reach it by boat or by road, and you can watch the market from the bridge next to it if you skip the boat.
It is mostly an early-morning market. Many travelers combine the two: Phong Dien first, then Cai Rang. Allow a full morning for both.
What can you do in Can Tho in the afternoon?
Fruit gardens
The gardens around Cai Rang and Phong Dien sit roughly 10 to 20 km from the city center. You can reach them by boat, bicycle, scooter or car. Many open from around 7 am until 5 or 6 pm, though hours vary by garden.
You walk between trees, taste what is in season and sit in the shade. Fruit depends on the month, so check our guide to the Mekong Delta fruit harvest season before you choose dates.
Local tip: Ask what the entry price includes before you sit down. Some gardens charge separately for each tasting or activity.
Binh Thuy Ancient House
The house is at 144 Bui Huu Nghia Street in Binh Thuy. Sources place it about 5 to 8 km from the center. The Duong family built it in 1870, and it mixes French, Chinese and Vietnamese styles. It is a recognized national heritage site and a private family home, not a museum.
Opening hours are not fixed. A local authority list says visitors should contact the owner or register through the monuments office. Some visitors report that it closes around lunch, and that photos inside are restricted. Visitors also report an entry fee of about 30,000 VND per person. Treat that as indicative, not a verified price list.
Can Tho Museum
The museum is at 46/11A Le Hong Phong Street, also in Binh Thuy. It covers the Kinh, Khmer and Chinese communities, local crafts and the history of the area. Visitors say it takes about one to two hours. It is a reasonable choice for the hottest part of the day, since it is indoors. Check current opening hours and entry fees before you go.
Other stops, if you have the time
Bang Lang Stork Garden is a bird sanctuary with a large number of storks. It lies far from the city, between Can Tho and Long Xuyen. Sources give 50 to 60 km from the center. Reported nesting season runs roughly from the third to the eighth lunar month. It needs a dedicated trip, so we would skip it on a one-day visit.
The rice noodle factory on Lo Vong Cung Street is about 6.5 km from the center. It fits easily into a boat or bike tour that already includes Cai Rang.
What can you do in Can Tho in the evening?
Ninh Kieu Wharf and the Love Bridge
Ninh Kieu Wharf is a public riverside promenade where the Hau and Can Tho rivers meet. It is also the main departure point for boat trips. The Ninh Kieu pedestrian bridge, often called the Love Bridge, is 199 meters long and curves in an S shape. It has two wider sections shaped like lotus flowers, and it is lit with LEDs at night. Early morning, sunset and night are the usual times to walk it.
Night market and old market
The night market near the wharf runs from late afternoon until around midnight. It sells clothes, souvenirs and street food. Can Tho Market, also called the old market, is a short walk away on Hai Ba Trung Street. Ong Pagoda sits inside the Guangzhou Assembly Hall, about three minutes on foot from the wharf. One listing gives its hours as 6 am to 8 pm, so confirm before you plan around it.
These stops line up on Hai Ba Trung Street, so you can walk them in one loop: Ong Pagoda, the market, the wharf, then the bridge.
Local tip: The wharf is a relaxed place to walk, but the night market is crowded. Keep your bag zipped and your phone in a front pocket.
What to eat
Can Tho is known for fish and fish sauce hotpot. It is a shared dish with many vegetables, a good fit for a group dinner after a long day. The floating market covers breakfast. For other Mekong dishes, see What to Eat in the Mekong Delta.
Quick reference: where each stop is and when to go
Distances are rough figures from public sources and differ by route. The time-of-day column is our suggestion.
| Stop | Suggested time | Reported distance from center | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cai Rang Floating Market | 5 to 8 am | About 5 to 6 km | Boat from Ninh Kieu Wharf takes about 30 to 40 minutes |
| Phong Dien Floating Market | Early morning | Roughly 15 to 20 km | Smaller and quieter, by boat or road |
| Fruit gardens | Late morning to afternoon | About 10 to 20 km | Hours vary by garden |
| Binh Thuy Ancient House | Daytime | About 5 to 8 km | No fixed hours listed, contact the owner |
| Can Tho Museum | Midday | In Binh Thuy | Visitors report one to two hours |
| Ninh Kieu Wharf and Love Bridge | Sunset to night | City center | Public space, lit at night |
| Night market | Late afternoon to about midnight | Near the wharf | Crowded, watch your belongings |
| Bang Lang Stork Garden | Dedicated trip | About 50 to 60 km | Far from the center |
How many days do you need in Can Tho?
Here are two plans. They are our suggestions, not fixed schedules, and times shift with traffic and the boat you book.
One day
- 5:30 am: Boat from Ninh Kieu Wharf to Cai Rang, breakfast on the water.
- 8:30 am: Return, or continue to Phong Dien.
- 10:30 am: A fruit garden.
- 12:30 pm: Lunch and a rest.
- 2:30 pm: Binh Thuy Ancient House and Can Tho Museum.
- 5:30 pm: Walk the wharf and the Love Bridge.
- 7:00 pm: Hotpot dinner and the night market.
Two days
Day 1. Arrive from Ho Chi Minh City by late morning. Visit a fruit garden, then Binh Thuy Ancient House and the museum. Spend the evening at the wharf and night market.
Day 2. Leave early for Cai Rang and Phong Dien. Return to the city, have lunch, then head back to Ho Chi Minh City. If you want a longer day, add Bang Lang Stork Garden instead of heading straight back.
How do you get to Can Tho from Ho Chi Minh City?
Can Tho is roughly 160 to 170 km from Ho Chi Minh City. By road it takes about three to four hours, depending on traffic and the vehicle. Buses, limousine vans, private cars and tours all run the route.
Most buses leave from Mien Tay Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City and arrive at Can Tho Central Bus Station on National Highway 1. Many limousine vans offer pick-up in the city instead. Check current timetables and prices with the operator. For a full comparison of routes, read How to Get from Ho Chi Minh City to the Mekong Delta.
Where should you stay in Can Tho?
Stay near Ninh Kieu Wharf if this is your first visit. Boats to the floating markets leave from there, and the night market and the Love Bridge are close by. You will not need a car in the evening.
How does Can Tho compare with Ben Tre and My Tho?
Can Tho is the better choice if the floating market is the main goal. Ben Tre suits travelers who want quiet countryside and canals, and My Tho is the shorter trip from Ho Chi Minh City. We compare the first two in Ben Tre vs Can Tho.
Questions Travelers Ask About Can Tho
How many days should I spend in Can Tho?
One night is a practical minimum. It lets you reach the market at the start of the day instead of racing there from Ho Chi Minh City. Two nights gives you time for the orchards, Binh Thuy and a slow evening.
What time should I go to Cai Rang Floating Market?
Plan to be on the water by about 5:30 or 6 am. The market is busiest between about 6 and 8, and it winds down by about 9.
Can I see Cai Rang and Phong Dien in one morning?
Yes. Many travelers combine them on one early boat trip or one tour. Start at Phong Dien and finish at Cai Rang, or ask your boat operator which order suits the day.
Is Can Tho a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City?
It can be, but it is a long day. The drive is three to four hours each way and the market is early. Most visitors find a night in Can Tho more relaxed.
How much does a boat to the floating market cost?
Prices vary by boat, group size and season. One recent visitor review mentions about 700,000 VND for a private boat for about three hours. That figure is indicative, not a verified price list. Ask for the price, the duration and the stops before you board.
Is Can Tho safe for travelers?
Can Tho is generally relaxed. Crowded places such as the night market call for the usual care with bags and phones. For general advice on the delta, read Is the Mekong Delta Safe for Tourists?
Plan your Can Tho trip
If you would rather not arrange boats and timing yourself, we run a private Mekong Delta tour in Can Tho with the early market, village visits and fruit gardens. You can also browse the Can Tho floating market and garden tour to compare options.
