48 hours in Can Tho

Can Tho is one of the must-see destinations on a trip to the Mekong Delta provinces.

The following two-day itinerary in Can Tho is based on advice from Ms. Do Vy, a tour guide from Con Son Tourism Cooperative (Can Tho City), and the experiences of a VnExpress reporter. This trip is suitable for those with limited time but who still want to visit all the popular spots and sample typical dishes in Can Tho.

Day 1

Morning and noon

For breakfast in the city center, a recommended dish is hu tieu (rice noodle soup). Can Tho is one of the best places to eat Hu Tieu Nam Vang in the Mekong Delta. The main ingredients are rice noodles, broth made from minced meat and pork offal. Some essential ingredients include bean sprouts, chives, minced meat, beef meatballs, and other ingredients depending on the restaurant. Recommended restaurants: A Dai, Huynh Ky, Ngoc Ngan.

The next stop on the morning itinerary is Con Son Island. This is a small island located in the middle of the Hau River, about 7 km from the city center. "If you don't have much time, a half-day tour of Con Son Island is a suitable option for tourists who want to learn about life in the southern riverine region," Do Vy said.

Activities on the tour typically include a boat trip on the river, a visit to a floating fish farm, a Koi fish massage, a visit to and fruit tasting at an orchard, a guided experience making banh khot (Vietnamese savory pancakes), and watching a "flying snakehead fish" performance – a type of fish that "jumps up" to catch prey. Lunch will be served at one of the local families' homes in Con Son area, featuring dishes from the Mekong Delta.

Tours to Con Son Island usually depart from the city center at 8:00 AM or 2:00 PM. Prices range around 250,000 VND per person. Meals are typically paid for by the tour participants. However, if meals are included in the tour, they can be booked in advance.

Evening

After returning to the city center, visitors should not miss one of Can Tho's famous attractions: the Binh Thuy ancient house.

Located on Bui Huu Nghia Street, about 8 km from the city center, Binh Thuy Ancient House belongs to the Duong family and was built in 1870. It has served as the setting for famous films such as "The Lover," "The Alluvial Roads," and "The Beauty of Tay Do." Opening hours are from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM and from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. Admission is 15,000 VND per person.

"This is a beautiful place for taking photos, so tourists, especially women, should choose light and comfortable outfits, perhaps similar to the main character in the movie 'The Lover ' , " Vy added.

In the late afternoon and evening, one option is to take a walk and explore the Ninh Kieu night market and the Tay Do night market, mainly concentrated on Hai Ba Trung, Nguyen Thai Hoc, and Tran Phu streets. The market usually opens from after 4 PM until late at night, with many stalls selling snacks, grilled food, and fruit.

End the day with a stroll on Ninh Kieu pedestrian bridge, also known as the Can Tho Love Bridge. Built in 2016, the bridge is one of the most popular tourist destinations, especially in the late afternoon and evening.

Spend the night at a hotel in Ninh Kieu district along the Hau River. This location is convenient for transportation and has many hotels. The average price ranges from 500,000 to 800,000 VND per night.

Day 2

Morning and noon

Wake up early and visit Cai Rang floating market. This is a unique aspect of life for people in the Mekong Delta. While trading isn't as bustling as it used to be, with very few boats selling local agricultural products on the river, first-time visitors to Can Tho should still experience a visit to the floating market.

Currently, boats on the Hau River mainly serve tourists, selling food such as vermicelli soup, noodle soup, coffee, and various fruits (usually pre-peeled for customers to eat on the spot).

Visitors can buy boat tickets directly at Ninh Kieu Wharf. They can also book boat tours to visit the floating market in advance, either through a tour group or at their hotel. Visiting the floating market is free, but a boat ride costs between 80,000 and 100,000 VND per person, depending on the type of boat and the number of passengers. A visit to the floating market lasts between 2 and 4 hours.

Lunch at Hoi Do restaurant. This is one of the authentic Western Vietnam-style country-style restaurants located in the heart of Can Tho City, in a small alley on Tran Binh Trong Street, Ninh Kieu District. The dishes include pickled vegetables, boiled vegetables with dipping sauce, fried eggs, stir-fried water spinach with garlic, crab salad with garlic and chili, braised pork with shrimp paste, braised fish, and sour fish soup with basa fish. The restaurant is a single-story house with two dining areas, indoor and outdoor. The food is served in rustic earthenware bowls and plates.

Afternoon

Spend the evening strolling around the city center. Can Tho is the most modern and central city in the Mekong Delta. Besides the places already visited, the city also boasts the Can Tho Bridge, Ong Pagoda, Buddhist Temple, and the Can Tho Museum.

Enjoy a relaxing coffee while watching the sunset over the Hau River at one of the cafes like Song Hau Coffee or Song Tho Cuisine (both food and drinks). Have dinner at Thanh Giao's braised duck restaurant in an alley off Ly Tu Trong Street.

If you don't follow the above itinerary, you can choose some alternative destinations such as: My Khanh Tourist Village, Ong De Eco-tourism Area, Bang Lang Stork Garden. Note the distance and transportation options to plan your schedule accordingly. In the evening, if you don't like walking, you can choose to take an electric tram tour of Can Tho at night or have dinner on a large cruise ship cruising along the Hau River. Remember to bargain carefully at the night market and choose reputable boats.

Tam Anh

Source link