You have 3 free days on the weekend. Why not trya 3-day, 2-night trip to Can Tho? You’ll definitely have an unforgettable vacation. But how can you travel to Can Tho by yourself in a fun and budget-friendly way? Check out our3-day, 2-night Can Tho travel guide from Saigon. You’re sure to have a fun trip and take some picture-perfect photos!
Traveling to Can Tho
Can Tho – the economic, cultural, and social center of the Mekong Delta, with extremely developed infrastructure and transportation systems. If you’re coming from Saigon, you can take a bus, sleep through the ride, and wake up in Can Tho. Alternatively, if you’re in Ho Chi Minh City, it’s easy to buy a bus ticket to the capital of the Mekong Delta with many options from various bus companies:
>>> See more: Guide to 2-day, 1-night Can Tho trip
List of bus companies running the Saigon – Can Tho route
- Phuong Trang Bus: Saigon – Can Tho – Saigon
- Lien Hung Bus
- Anh Tuan Bus
- Hung Thinh Bus
- Loc Phat Limousine Bus
- Son Nguyen Bus
>>> See more: 1-day Can Tho travel guide from Saigon
Choosing a hotel in Can Tho
Since Can Tho is a large city, it’s easy to find accommodation, including along Ung Van Khiem street with many affordable hostels and hotels. Alternatively, you can just drive around a little and you’ll find dozens of hotels to choose from. However, I’ve found that hotels in the Phuoc Hai district tend to be cheaper than those in Ninh Kieu.
Most hostels and hotels here offer single rooms for around 250k/night and double rooms for about 400k/night, which are perfect for a group of friends. Rooms are simple, quite clean, and convenient.
Additionally, just search “Renting a motorbike in Can Tho” and you will find a list of rental services for your journey in this region.
3-day, 2-night Can Tho itinerary from Saigon
Day 1: Saigon – Can Tho – Exploring Can Tho
It takes about 4 hours to travel from Saigon to Can Tho by bus, so it’s best to take an early bus. You’ll arrive in Can Tho around noon. After lunch, check into your hotel, rest, and then spend the afternoon exploring Can Tho. For lunch, you can visit Hoi Do restaurant (54 Tran Binh Trong, An Phu, Ninh Kieu District) to enjoy traditional southern Vietnamese dishes such as kho quet, canh chua, etc.
The restaurant is decorated in a nostalgic southern style, from the space to the dishes and utensils. The prices are reasonable, and the seasoning is just right. It’s best to go with a group so you can try many dishes while keeping costs low. We were two people and still had plenty of food left!
Exploring Can Tho City
The city center of Can Tho offers enough attractions to fill an entire day. With unique architecture, Can Tho blends both ancient and modern styles.
Chau Van Liem High School (Ninh Kieu District):
Chau Van Liem High School, formerly known as Collège de Can Tho and Phan Thanh Gian High School, is one of the oldest schools in Can Tho, Vietnam. It was built by the French in 1917 and completed in 1921. After more than 100 years, the school now boasts a new and prominent appearance.
Strolling through the Old Apartment Complex on Ngo Huu Hanh Street, Ninh Kieu District – A “Haio Sy Phuong” of the Mekong Delta.
You’ll feel like you’ve entered another world amid the bustling city. The calm and tranquil atmosphere, with old staircases, green fences, and a peaceful environment, is what you’ll experience here.
The Unique Mural Street – Can Tho Old and New
The mural street runs along Tran Quoc Toan Street, Ninh Kieu District (Can Tho City). This road, connecting Phan Dinh Phung Street to Ninh Kieu Wharf, showcases vivid images of old Can Tho, such as people in ao dai riding on Lambro550 tricycles, traditional hand-pulled carts, Honda 67 bikes, old Ninh Kieu Wharf, and Can Tho’s old market.
Additionally, right in front of the city library, you’ll find rows of beautiful purple flowers creating a nostalgic atmosphere.
The “Lonely Tree” Riverside
Located at KDC 586, Phu Thu, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City. This place features a lonely tree and a few small decorations like a swing and a wooden bridge. It’s the perfect spot to capture some peaceful and picturesque moments. I heard the owner charges a small fee for taking photos here.
After walking around, we decided to stop by a nearby pier, sip sugarcane juice, and listen to the relaxing sounds of the river. The juice here is super sweet and refreshing, only 5,000 VND. We sat under the tamarind trees, enjoying the view of Can Tho Bridge from afar.
>>> See more: What to do in Can Tho
There are two moments in a day you shouldn’t miss: the sunrise and sunset.
It’s amazing to experience the sunset under the Can Tho Bridge. Locals are the best guides to this spot. You’ll need to head toward Vinh Long and turn right at the bottom of the bridge.
It’s peaceful and relaxing here, with just the sound of the river and the breeze in the air. You’ll feel your mind lighten in this serene setting.
Dinner in Can Tho
After a long day of exploration, we returned to our hotel, showered, and treated ourselves to a famous local dish – Duck Stew with fermented tofu. A must-try is at the restaurant Vịt Nấu Chao Cô Minh at 1/1C Ly Tu Trong Alley, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho. This place is recommended by almost every local food lover in Can Tho.
The restaurant is friendly and offers generous portions. The broth is flavorful, packed with herbs, and the price is incredibly affordable!
Day 2: Visit Binh Thuy Ancient House – Coconut Grove
After breakfast with coffee, we continued our journey to one of the must-see spots in Can Tho – the Binh Thuy Ancient House (Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho).
Binh Thuy Ancient House
The Binh Thuy Ancient House in Can Tho is a wooden house with five rooms and two roofs, built by the Duong family in 1870. It is designed in a French style on the outside, but the inside is traditional, reflecting Vietnamese family heritage. The house is filled with rare wood and intricate carvings. There are many valuable antiques preserved here for over 150 years.
Binh Thuy Sports Center
From the Binh Thuy Ancient House, you can visit the Binh Thuy Sports Center, which features French colonial architecture similar to buildings in Da Lat. It’s a hidden gem that few explore, and we were lucky enough to find it. It’s the perfect spot for unique, old-fashioned photos.
Enjoying Western-style Pancakes (Bánh Xèo)
While in the Mekong Delta, you can’t miss trying Bánh Xèo, so we headed to the Bánh Xèo 7 Tới restaurant on Hoang Quoc Viet Street, An Binh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho.
The spacious restaurant offers a comfortable atmosphere, especially during hot afternoons. The crispy golden pancakes filled with savory and sweet ingredients, paired with fresh herbs, make this an excellent spot to try.
>>> See more: Guide to Can Tho – Soc Trang – Con Dao
Coconut Grove Historic Site
The second day of our journey continued with a visit to the Coconut Grove historical site in Nhon Khanh Hamlet, Nhon Nghia Commune, Phong Dien District, Can Tho. This site is linked to the era of land reclamation and was also a base for the Vietnam Liberation Army before 1975. Here, you’ll experience the unique natural beauty created by coconut trees.
Grilled Snakehead Fish
For dinner, we decided to try a local favorite, grilled snakehead fish, at the Cá Lóc An restaurant on Trần Văn Hoài Street, Xuân Khánh, Ninh Kiều. The prices are reasonable, and the fish is grilled to perfection, served with delicious dipping sauces.
Day 3: Ninh Kiều Wharf – Ong Pagoda – Floating Market – Return to Saigon
At 4 AM, we got up early to visit the must-see attraction in Can Tho: the Cai Rang Floating Market.
Cai Rang Floating Market
The floating market is a unique cultural feature of the southwestern Vietnamese people, something you won’t find elsewhere. Especially, the Cai Rang Floating Market is one of the five largest floating markets in the Mekong Delta. All trading and eating occur on the river, providing you with a truly unique experience.
Breakfast at Cai Rang Floating Market
One thing you cannot miss when visiting a floating market is to experience breakfast on the floating market. Amidst the bustling atmosphere of boats passing by, the echoing sounds of vendors, in a dreamy morning, there is nothing better than enjoying a hot bowl of “bun rieu” soup, right?
>>>Read more: Experience dining at Cai Rang Floating Market
Ninh Kieu Wharf
When in Can Tho, do not forget to visit Ninh Kieu Wharf – a famous tourist and cultural destination of the city. Ninh Kieu Wharf has become an icon of Can Tho city.
Ninh Kieu is located at the confluence of the Hau River, at the intersection of the Hau River and the Can Tho River, always bustling with boats carrying various agricultural and seafood products, typical products of the Mekong Delta region.When visiting Ninh Kieu Wharf, you cannot miss the Love Bridge, standing on the bridge you can have a clear view of the Can Tho Bridge, Ong Island, and almost the entire Ninh Kieu Wharf.
Ong Pagoda
Ong Pagoda – A unique spiritual address in the Western region: Ong Pagoda, originally named Quang Trieu Assembly Hall, is an ancient temple with a history of over 100 years located in Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. The pagoda is a spiritual center for a large part of the Chinese community with dominant colors of red, yellow, and exquisite sculptural art.
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Finally, we returned to the city center for lunch and had some delicious bánh xèo, a specialty of the Mekong Delta that cannot be missed. Then we got back on the bus to Ho Chi Minh City, preparing for a new work week with a memory-filled photo album.
“Can Tho, white rice, clear water – Once you go there, you won’t want to leave.”
It can be said that Can Tho represents the most typical cultural characteristic of the land and people of the sincere, gentle, peaceful, romantic, and poetic Southern people. Setting aside work worries and life burdens, packing your bags and taking a weekend trip back to the countryside, you will feel more energized. I’m happy to share my 3-day-2-night trip to Can Tho with everyone.
