Discover Can Tho: Riverside, Markets and Culture

Can Tho offers several themes around which you can plan your stay: the Hậu River, the city’s history, and markets with different specialities. If you’re looking for a hotel, first consider which of these aspects interests you most. This lets you plan the trip around your own priorities without combining river experiences, culture and shopping into a single itinerary.

Riverside and trips on the Hậu

Bến Ninh Kiều Wharf is a tourist attraction on Hai Bà Trưng Street in Tân An District. It lies on the right bank of the Hậu River and was established in the 19th century. In the evening, visitors can take a river bus trip from there and have dinner on board. If you plan to take this trip, check the schedule in advance.

Another boat trip runs from Bến Ninh Kiều to the nearby Cái Răng Floating Market. Along the way, visitors can take in the riverbanks and experience the sunrise. The two options offer different experiences: dinner is part of the evening trip, while the trip to the market combines riverbanks, sunrise and a market visit. So, when planning, the main thing to consider is which of these experiences you’d like to focus on.

Cultural sites and traces of history

The Cần Thơ Museum focuses on historical artefacts relating to the culture and population of Cần Thơ across different eras. It was established in 1976 and has around 5,000 objects and historical artefacts. Its collection therefore offers a way to explore several periods in the city’s history rather than focusing on a single era.

Đình Thới Bình can also be understood through several historical dates: the structure was built around the beginning of the 19th century. In 1853, it received a royal decree granting it the title “Bổn Cảnh Thành Hoàng”. Đình Thần Thới Bình was designated a municipal architectural and artistic monument by the city of Cần Thơ in 2018. The construction period and the later designation mark different milestones in the site’s history.

Chùa Ông is a preserved historic building belonging to the Hoa community at Bến Ninh Kiều. It was built between 1894 and 1896 on a 532-square-metre plot. This example brings together details about the building with its cultural affiliation. Visitors interested in architecture and history will find several distinct points of interest in Can Tho: a historical collection, a monument and a building with an explicitly stated community affiliation.

Markets with different specialities

Cái Răng Floating Market was established in the early years of the 20th century. It mainly trades in agricultural produce, fruit and local specialities. This sets it apart from the city’s markets: the focus is on agricultural goods and regional trade. The boat trip from Bến Ninh Kiều combines a visit to the market with views of the river and the sunrise.

Despite its restoration, Cần Thơ Old Market retains the overall form of the former Lục Tỉnh Market. Clothing, toys and souvenirs are among the goods sold at the Old Market. Trade, entertainment and tourism take centre stage at Ninh Kiều Night Market, where visitors can find fresh fruit, handicrafts, seafood and street food. The selection at individual stalls may vary. Comparing the markets can help you decide which better suits your interests: the floating market, with its agricultural produce and local specialities, or the city markets, with their goods and food.

Another look at history

The historic site of Khám Lớn Cần Thơ served as a prison for revolutionary fighters and patriotic civilians. This place adds another dimension to the stories told by the museum, temple and markets. If you’re planning your stay around culture and history, you can distinguish between collections, architecture, market history and the monument’s historical purpose.

For the broader travel overview: Ninh Kiều.