Can Tho Things to Do

Avoid the bustle of the overpriced tour boats and take a private boat to whizz by the floating markets and explore the wonders of the infinite maze of canals that define the Mekong Delta.
After a 6am start, watch the morning sun sparkle on the river and stop off at the market boats to grab some coffee, bread and sample some of the mouth-watering fruits of Vietnam to set you on your way.

For a really wonderful tour, look out for Ut, a elequent and charming lady, that will take you out and explain the ways of the river and the mysteries of Vietnam.
Sit back, relax and enjoy the conversation as time slips by as you meander through the narrow waters of the Mekong.

You'll usually find Ut sitting at the side of the street opposite the Ho Chi Minh statue
conversing with a friend over a cup of green tea waiting for some business to call in,
or just ask at your hotel for Ut and Hai and you might get lucky.

Bon Voyage.

Sampans filled with fish, octopi, flowers, jars of herbs, wood sculptures, melons and much more would be along the shoreline at Cai Rang district and with a little haggling you could get just about anything (Legal and illegal) for very little money (especially if you used American dollars). It appears that the same boats are still there (I am sure they are actually different boats but they look just the same as in the 1960s). Possibly they are the grandchildren of the vendors we did business with.

According to many of the guidebooks, the floating market at Phung Hiep has either shrunk or vanished altogether. In fact, "rumors of its death have been greatly exaggerated". It seems the fact that the bridge in Phung Hiep provided such a good view of the goings on, the traffic and crowds at the bridge became a hazard. As a result, the market is still alive and well a few kilometers downstream. To get there, you first need to get to Phung Hiep from Can Tho (about 30km), and then do your best song and dance in Phung Hiep to find a boat that will take you to the market. 3 hrs in the boat will be plenty of time to explore the market and some of the surrounding channels.

Although this floating market is not as colorful as Damnernsaduak (Thailand), but it's a real market for both local & tourists.

Please bring along your sun screen and sun glasses as the morning ray can be quite harmful to your skin. You'll most likely forget that you are exposed to strong sun light because of beautiful surrounding, but you'll suffer at night when the tiredness and other factors all creep in.

4 more images

Cai Rang

Las mercancias se mueven por el río y sus canales y en ellos se hacen los mercados .
En Cai Rang está el mercado flotante más grande del Delta del Mekong y en él se puede ver como negocian en los barcos principalmente frutas y verduras que traen las barcas pequeñas para vender a los mayoristas que están en los barcos grandes.
Cada barco lleva amarrado en su palo mayor la fruta o verdura que vende , por ejemplo piñas, y así se pueden orientar los compradores

The woods are moving in the river and their channels and on them they make their markets
In Cai Rang is the biggest floating market in the Mekong Delta and on it you may see how they trade in the boatsmainly fruits and vegetables that the small boats bring to sell to the wholesaers that are in the big boats
Each boat has in the mainmast the fruit or vegetable that they sell, for instance pineapples, and so the buyers may be orientated

Puedes hacer un alto en el camino y descansar en una hamaca , pues hay sitios en las carreteras que adem?s de poder tomar algo puedes tumbarte a descansar

You can do an stop on your way and rest in a hammock, because there are some places onthe roads where that besides to eat or drink something you may have a rest

An interesting stop involves a visit to a rice paper factory. Almost all multi-day tours from HCMC include them. They take you through the whole process of making rice paper. It is made from a batter of rice flour, water and salt. The paper is steamed, then dried on bamboo racks.

The floating markets are a lively place where many goods are exchanged. Cai Rang floating market is the main wholesale floating market near Can Tho. Go there early (after 6 am) and watch the action. Its hundreds of merchant, buyers, and tourists all moving at the same time. You can tell what each boat is selling by what is attached to the pole on each merchant ship. Friendly locals will try to sell you food or drinks. The floating market can be visited on small boats for about $3 per hour. You may take a tour from the Ninh Kieu pier where the "boat ladies" are always eager to charm you into taking theirs.