Can Tho is the the biggest city in the Mekong Delta and home to the famous the Cai Rang floating market.
Traditionally the most popular way to visit Can Tho was by tours from Ho Chi Minh City, or overland trips to and from Phnom Penh in Cambodia. With international flights now serving Can Tho it’s becoming an alternative starting point for a trip to Vietnam, saving a back-track from Saigon if you are visiting the Mekong Delta.
Can Tho is a big city with over one million people, but the main points of interest for a first-time visitor are around the old town riverfront area. If you are just looking for where to stay as a tourist, then look on the map for Hai Ba Trung Street along the Can Tho River. Cho Can Tho (Can Tho Market) is the central point for which to start your hotel search.
Search for hotels in Can Tho.
For this guide I’ve marked out the best areas to stay in Can Tho, and some of the best Can Tho hotels.
Can Tho Riverside (Ninh Kieu Quay)
Can Tho is a river city that sits on the junction of the Can Tho River and Hau River. For visitors to Can Tho the best area to stay is by the Can Tho riverside along Ninh Kieu Quay, also known as Ninh Kieu Park
Here you will find the most interesting old buildings, river views, easy access to boats for the Cai Rang Market, travel agents for onward travels, and plenty of cafes and restaurants. Opposite the Can Tho Market Building there is a night market, and walking along the riverfront is nice any time of day.
The main road on the riverfront is Hai Ba Trung, and there are a variety of hotel for all budgets along here. Cheap hotels can be found in the smaller streets between Hai Ba Trung and Hoa Binh Boulevard.
the first street behind Hai Ba Trung is Le Thanh Ton. On this street around the corner of Tan Trao are a bunch of cheap guesthouse accommodation. Head to this area if you want to go old-school and walk around looking for a place to stay. These places are basic no frills places that do the job if you are on a budget. I stayed in such a place about ten minutes walk from the market on the river.
On Le Thanh Ton is the Henry Iris Hotel, which has dorm beds and private rooms available.
For mid-range hotels, the 3-star Asia Hotel is centrally located.
[Asia Hotel.]
The 4-star Saigon Can Tho Hotel is on a prominent corner just a block away from the river.
[Saigon Can Tho Hotel.]
On the riverfront notable hotels include the Nam Bo Boutique Hotel, and if you prefer big hotels there is the 4.5-Star Ninh Kieu Riverside Hotel.
[Ninh Kieu Riverside Hotel.]
Cai Khe Ward
I stayed in the riverfront area, and for first-timers you can’t go wrong here. I’ve list some other areas though to give an idea of alternatives.
Cai Khe Ward is the area that faces the Hau River (a branch of the Mekong River), and inland from there is more like the working business side of the city.
The landmark hotel in this area is the Fortuneland Hotel Can Tho on Tran Van Kheo Street. This street has some restaurants and night clubs that make it feel more like a city rather than a tourist enclave.
Running off Tran Van Kheo Street are some smaller streets with a cluster of mid-range hotels. Some of these hotels also include karaoke and massage parlours and the nightlife that goes with it. Looking on the map the landmark hotel here is the Holiday One Hotel on Pham Ngoc Thach Street. Next to that is Tran Dai Nghia Street.
[Tran Dai Nghia in Cai Khe Ward – Can Tho.]
The Nesta Hotel is one of the few hotels that is by the Hau river. This 4-star hotel has a pool and river views.
[Nesta Hotel.]
Closer to the riverfront is the 5-star Muong Thanh Luxury Can Tho Hotel.
[Muong Thanh Luxury Can Tho Hotel.]
Near the confluence of the Can Tho and Hau Rivers is the Victoria Can Tho Resort. It’s near the Ninh Kieu pedestrian bridge, which lights up at night with a light show. This bridge connects Cai Khe to the Ninh Kieu Wharf area. The bridge makes it feel like it’s part of the riverfront scene, but it’s technically Cai Khe.
City Centre
[Vinpearl Hotel Can Tho.]
If you want to stay in the tallest building in the Mekong Delta, then look no further than the Vinpearl Hotel Can Tho. It’s a bit far from the river to be a comfortable walk so you would need to get a Grab bike or taxi from here
Au Islet
For total indulgence the fanciest hotel in the city is on an island in the river. The Azerai Resort Can Tho is a luxury 5-star resort on Au Islet in the Hau River (where the Can Tho Bridge crosses). The island resort is opposite the Cai Khe riverfront, and there are shuttle boats to the riverfront in case you get island fever.
As I mentioned in my trip report, Can Tho is still very much a provincial city with few international brands represented. And the same applies with hotels, where the luxury 5-star hotels are local companies. The Azerai is the first international resort hotel in Can Tho, developed in conjunction with Novaland of Vietnam.
