Can tho, the Mekong’s ‘capital city’

Can Tho

Can Tho

Can Tho

Apart from being the provincial city, Can Tho is also the unofficial ‘capital’ of the Mekong Delta. It’s a vigorous modern place with some good hotels and restaurants, however not a lot else. Nevertheless, it’s a useful centre for visiting the Cai Rang and Phong Hiep floating markets and cruising the labyrinth of the

Mekong’s channels and canals.  

Initially a small settlement within the 18th century Can Tho expanded rapidly in the course of the French colonial interval when rice-growing was launched to the Mekong. Now it has a population of a quarter of 1,000,000 folks, making it Vietnam’s ninth largest city.

The city is positioned on the financial institution of the Bassac River, about 170 km southwest of Ho Chi Minh City. It’s an important industrial and farming centre. Local manufacturing industries embrace shipbuilding, rice processing, textiles, and farm machinery. Agricultural goods include coconut oil and sugarcane.

It has good transport links – the river, local roads and Vietnam’s major north-south highway, and a large airport serving many of the Mekong Delta. Two major ports are situated nearby. The upmarket Victoria Hotel has a non-public fast motorboat connecting with Ho Chi Minh City and Chau Doc.

Attractions include a large pagoda inbuilt 1946 in the style of Khmer Theravada Buddhism. It looks impressive; however the interior is very disappointing.

Much better is Chua Ong, a Chinese language temple facing the river in the coronary heart of the city. It contains a large effigy of a red-faced Normal Quan Cong wearing decidedly flamboyant headgear and different statues. Outside, the waterfront cafés provide drinks, coffee and a super view of the busy river carrying every thing from large container ships to tiny sampans.

Close to the main wharf, a vigorous out of doors market sells all kinds of fruit and marine merchandise – durian, mangoes, jackfruit, melons, and many shellfish and ocean fish.

The Department of Agronomy at Can Tho University houses Vietnam’s largest analysis centre on rice, one of many country’s most important staple foods.

In recent years, a collection of gardens have appeared alongside Can Tho land and water routes. One among these, the 2.2 ha My Khanh Gardens, features many different species of fruit trees and flowers, birds, fish, tortoises, snakes, crabs and shrimps. There are small rong houses (ethnic minority communal dwellings) to supply visitors with a place to rest for the night.

There are plenty of opportunities to cruise the river. A 30km drive to Phong Hiep, where a boat will take you to a close-by floating market. Closer, but way more touristy, is Cai Rang floating market.

The best river-born treat in Can Tho is a leisurely trip in a small sampan around the myriad of channels working off the river, visiting gardens and orchards on the way.