Can Tho

Can Tho is located in the center of the 11 provinces of the Mekong Delta, 170 km from Ho Chi Minh City, south of the Hau River. The Hau River is considered a benefactor of this region, since yearly floods deposit large quantities of alluvia to the rice fields. The climatic features of this area are similar to the other provinces of the Mekong Delta. The temperature rarely falls under 15°C and the rainy season lasts from May to November.

Can Tho is famous with tourists for its floating markets. The floating markets are a very lively scenery, accommodating much of the goods exchange on the area, and can be quite freely visited on board smaller boats. You may take a tour from the Ninh Kiều pier, in front of the Nam Bộ restaurant, where the "boat ladies" are always eager to charm you into taking theirs. 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. Below is some floating markets:

- Cai Rang (Cái Răng) floating market is the main wholesale floating market near Can Tho. Go there early (start no later than 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 like to go there on the land. The arroyos back from there to Can Tho are also very much worth a ride on a small boat.

- 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).

Beside 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], Citymark, Maximark, Vinatex Plaza... Can Tho main market at Cái Khế is a really typical and colored place where you will find a true Vietnamese market.