Where to go in Can Tho?

1. Floating Markets

The floating markets are the main points for trading in Cần Thơ, as locals would sell their products in wooden sampans. You will also experience the bustling canal system that plays an integral part in the life of locals. It is lively, noisy, and definitely unlike any other markets you’d ever seen. Cái Răng Floating Market is the biggest and most frequently visited floating market in Cần Thơ, while Phong Điền Floating Market is a smaller and lesser-known one.

• How to get there: Travel to Ninh Kiều Pier and rent a boat from local tour agents - prices begin at 100 000 VND. Alternatively, go to An Binh Market, a small market near Cái Răng Floating Market and take a motorboat tour for 50 000 VND. If you would prefer to take a planned tour, Mekong Tours (http://mekongtours.info/floating-market-tour/) and 9dragons (http://9dragons.mekong-delta.com/en/2_mystic/start) all offer well-reviewed tours of the floating markets.
• Opening hours: from 5 am til noon, although the majority of trade happens between 5 am and 7 am.

2. Bằng Lăng Egret Garden (Vườn Cò Bằng Lăng)

The egret garden is simply a must-see sight when you are in Cần Thơ. Travel along a network, a network of creeks and canals as you see tens of thousands different egrets soaring across the sky and land gracefully on bamboo branches everywhere. It is just one of those things that you have to see to believe.

• Address: Vườn Cò Bằng Lăng is in Thot Not District, about 60km away from Cần Thơ City.
• How to get there: Take the National Freeway 91 from Cần Thơ to Thot Not. From Thot Not, continue to Bằng Lăng Bridge and make a left turn. The road to Bằng Lăng Egret Garden is accessible only by motorbike, or in the monsoon season, by boat.
• Price: Locals 10 000 VND, foreigners 20 000 VND.
• Opening hours: 5am - 6pm

3. Bình Thủy Ancient House (Nhà Cổ Bình Thủy)

The family home of the Duong family, Bình Thủy Ancient House is a mix of Western and Eastern architecture. With French influence and materials, yet an unmistakable East Asian charm, the house is a gem for any architecture lover.

• Address: 142/144 Bui Huu Nghia Street, Bình Thủy District, Cần Thơ
• Price: free
• Phone: 0710 3826 395

4. Ông Pagoda (Chùa Ông)

Ông Pagoda is the spiritual gathering place for the Hoa ethnicity in Cần Thơ. Built in 1894, it has remained relatively unchanged over the years. A classic design in the style of Chinese temples, Ông Pagoda was designated as a National Arts & Architecture Monument in 1993.

• Address: 32 Hai Bà Trưng Street, Tân An Ward, Ninh Kiều District, Cần Thơ

5. Nam Nhã Pagoda (Chùa Nam Nhã)

Nam Nhã Pagoda is not only a beautifully constructed pagoda but also a location with a rich historical background: It was formerly a Chinese medicine store, before becoming an operating base for anti-colonisation movements in the Mekong Delta. A trip to Nam Nhã Pagoda will give you an insight into the early historical movements in the Delta, as well as a chance to appreciate a religious landmark.

Address: 612 Cach Mang Thang Tam, An Thoi Ward, Bình Thủy District, Cần Thơ

6. Ninh Kiều Quay

Ninh Kiều Quay is a well-known tourist destination for its scenic location overloọking the Hau Giang river. Have a meal in the floating restaurant, and enjoy Mekong Delta cuisine, or simply take a refreshing night walk along the quay, breathing in the fresh riverside air.

To learn more about Ninh Kieu Quay and see all the photos of it, please check this post out.

7. Lưu Hữu Phước Park

Named after prolific composer Lưu Hữu Phước, the park is a serene place and a favorite spot for the locals. Wake up early in the morning to see hordes of old women exercise to upbeat music, or observe a game of Chinese checkers. In the evening, children ride ‘kiddie wagons’ around the park, while the youth often have impromptu concerts or practice dance routines here. It is a window into the lives of residents in the bustling city centre.