Can Tho overview
Can Tho city is located in the lower and middle part of Mekong river and is the key economic area in the Mekong Delta. There are many rivers and canals such as Can Tho river, Thot Not and O Mon canals, including the Hau River, which has a total length of 65 km, originated from the Mekong River and carrying alluvial and large, diversified marine fisheries and promoting the strong development of the fisheries sector. In addition, the climate here is hot all year round, with no cold rains added to the fertile soil, which is suitable for growing food crops and fruit trees. Potential for rice production in Can Tho also plays an important role in promoting the strong development of the entire Mekong region. What is more, Can Tho has unique culture with ethnic groups: Kinh, Hoa, Khmer, …
Can Tho city is located in the lower and middle part of Mekong rover and is the key economic area in the Mekong Delta
Visiting Ninh Kieu wharf
Formed in the 19th century, through historical time, Ninh Kieu wharf is now considered the busiest area. Ninh Kieu wharf is very close to the city on the right bank of the Hau Giang River, at the junction of the Hau River and the Can Tho River. Ninh Kieu wharf is always crowded with boats, rafts carrying a lot of characteristics agricultural products, seafood in the region. Ninh Kieu wharf is the pride of the people of Can Tho because it is considered a port capable of receiving large vessels with a capacity of 5000 tons. Ninh Kieu wharf in Can Tho is a big trading center of the West with diversified goods. Apart from that, you can sit in the floating restaurants on the river to admire the scenery, especially at night.
Ninh Kieu Wharf where is combined the most exited activities of Can Tho
Experiencing life on the river – Cai Rang Floating Market
“Cam, thi, giang” (music/ musical instruments, poetry, river), the original meaning of ancient Can Tho has revealed many things about the culture of this river. Visiting the place where has been dubbed as Tay Do, the charming, fascinating feature here is the feeling of floating on the Hau river to see the sunrise, the scenery, and people of the Mekong River. This romance has existed for hundreds of years, creating the so-called ” canal civilization ” (according to Son Nam writer). If you have a day tour to Can Tho river, the first point to visit is definitely Cai Rang floating market (Cai Rang District).
Cai Rang Floating Market is considered as the soul of Can Tho
Located about 5 km from the center of Can Tho City, Cai Rang floating market is met on Hau river, and is the convergence of products from all countryside and the unique features of community activities. The time when the market is most crowded is during the period from 6 am to 8 am every morning with hundreds of boats, small boats parked close to together. In the bustling atmosphere of the market, visitors can observe and learn about the activities of families with many generations living together on the boat.
There are boats like “mobile apartments” on the river with flower pots, pet species, amenities such as color TV, DVD player, sound system … and motorcycle parking on the boat as proving the “high- class” life of the owner.
Not as noisy as the traditional market, traders in Cai Rang floating market often “hang” the products they sell on the pole-pitched on each boat. Therefore, you are free to enjoy the pleasure of sight, hearing and smell because you will not have to be bothered by the begging, advertising as you often see when going to the ground markets.
In Cai Rang floating market, it is interesting that you can see small boats serving breakfast, coffee, even liquor in the market serving the needs of people. It is much more interesting if you wave your hand and order a small breakfast from one of the boats which is wandering between a “fleet” with hundreds of small boats. The charming lady in her “bà ba” (the traditional dress of Southern women) will bring the breakfast to you.
Along with Cai Rang floating market, the alluvium in Hau River also accumulates to Can Tho a very attractive ecological area, inviting tourists to continue exploring the life of the river in the West.
Binh Thuy Ancient House
Can Tho has more than 70 ancient houses with many cultural and historical values. The ancient house of Binh Thuy, located on Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thuy Ward, is the ancient house of the Duong family (built in 1870) and welcomes thousands of domestic and foreign visitors each year.
Binh Thuy ancient house has French architecture, is the combination of Eastern – Oriental cultural exchanges, is shown through many beautiful decorative patterns. Currently, the sixth descendant of Duong family, Mr. Duong Minh Hien and his family, continues to inherit and preserve the house. Stepping through the fortified concrete fence and iron gate in a French-style mansion, visitors encounter additional gates in line with the fence gate built in the architecture of the Orient.
The house is wide with six rows of black ironwood. The connection between the poles and beams is a very detailed piece of brown woodwork. Thanks to the system of spacious doors and windows, the house is still very cool despite the burning hot. All red- black roses tiles paved on the floor with casted iron fence protecting the campus were ordered and transported from France. The house is specially treated with antiperspirants and kept the chill, which is by spreading more than 10cm of granular salt under the ground and not using cement to build.
Binh Thuy Ancient House is the ancient house of the Duong family (built in 1870) and welcomes thousands of domestic and foreign visitors each year
What is special is that, although the layout and a lot of furniture in the ancient house carry the style of Western Europe, the most important place, which is the worship hall, is still designed in Oriental style. The Eastern – Oriental cultural communication is quite harmonious reflecting the subtle aesthetic of the owner. This is an intact, rare surviving antique house that helps researchers study the daily life, culture and the development of Mekong residents through various interventions during the transition between the two centuries…
Visiting the ancient house of Binh Thuy, tourists can also talk to the owner to understand other interesting things such as the position of members during the meal of an old family (sons sitting to the right, daughters sitting to the left and parents sitting in the middle facing the main door), why the “hòn non bộ” (miniature landscapes islands, mountains and surrounding environment as found in nature) is built in front of the big door, how to express the aspirations of the owner for a peaceful country, happy family and good manners.
Enjoying delicious specialties
Cai Son Pancake (sizzling cake)
Unlike other pancakes in other places, pancakes here attract a lot of tourists not only with the name known by the village of Cai Son, but also with the delicious taste impressing diners. Banh Xeo is made from purebred rice flour without being mixed with ingredients, the stuffing is made from a variety of ingredients and served with vegetables. On the form, the cake has bright yellow color, especially, when being dotted in the dipping sauce, people will feel the unique flavor while chewing. Therefore, visiting Can Tho, you can not ignore this delicious food.
Cai Son Pancake (sizzling cake) is a special food and you should try it if travel Can Tho
Fish Noodles
This dish is the unique combination of Hanoi and Can Tho cuisine. The dish has the fatty flavor of the fish, the sweet of the broth cooked from the fish bone make a strange odor which can only be found in Can Tho. Fish noodles soup is made from different types of fish, but the best ones are snakehead fish whose fillet is dried. This dish is reserved with vegetables like basil…. Fish noodles soup is popular in Western Vietnam and is eaten at breakfast, so the dish is most popular with the diners.
Fish noodle is one of the most famous and special dish in Can Tho
Can Tho has become a destination for water tourism in the South of Vietnam and is the stop for most of the tourist groups before going to Doi Pagoda – Soc Trang, Bac Lieu Bird Park, Dat Mui – Ca Mau, U Minh, Hon Dat, Ha Tien, Phu Quoc …
