About the city
Can Tho (or Cantho; Vietnamese: Cần Thơ) is a relatively large city in the heart of the Mekong Delta, in Vietnam.
Can Tho has a tremendous reputation for being a welcoming place, where everybody is smiling and welcoming. Indeed the Vietnamese in the Mekong Delta are making good a saying that goes:
"Cần Thơ gạo trắng nước trong
Ai đi tới đó lòng không muốn về"
"Can Tho has white rice and clear water
Once being there, your heart won't leave."
Can Tho has a population well in excess of 1 million and is the biggest city in the Mekong Delta. Although developing fast (about 10% growth in 2004), it retains its charm as the center of a rural area, as the urban development is taking place in a rather orderly manner.
Get in
By road, allow about 1.5 hours from Sóc Trăng, about 2.5 hours from Châu Đốc, about 3.5 hours from Rạch Giá, about 5 hours from Ho Chi Minh City (63,000 dong), about 6 hours from Cà Mau and about 1.5 hours from Long Xuyen.
It is possible to rent a car for US$100-120 for a return trip for 2-3 passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho; or move by local minibus, which offer better and better services; for about US$3-4, and departing every hour or so from the Ho Chi Minh City western bus station (Bến Xe Miền Tây, Xa Cảng).
There is no longer a regular ferry service (the hydrofoils were unreliable and accident-prone) but river travel is still possible:
- By speedboat - a good way to see the great Mekong Delta scenery. Takes about 3.5 hours non-stop from Ho Chi Minh City (180,000 dong). Departure HCMC - Can Tho at 13:00 pm; Can Tho - HCMC at 07:15 am. Starting from end August 2007 boats will leave each direction twice per day, mornings (07:00 am) and afternoons (13:00 pm).
- By slow boat - a more relaxing alternative. Takes about 24 hours from Ho Chi Minh City, plus stops.
Trà Nóc Airport (IATA: VCA | ICAO: VVCT) is currently being expanded and upgraded to international status, with completion due in 2008.
From Can Tho you can easily reach other peaceful cities of the Mekong Delta such as Sóc Trăng, Châu Đốc, Sa Đéc, Rạch Giá and Cà Mau.