Attractions Nearby Can Tho, Day Trips and Excursions

(Can Tho, Mekong Delta, Vietnam)

Can Tho is surrounded by several appealing Mekong Delta towns and attractions that are worth a look and suitable for day trips. These destinations include nearby Tra Vinh and My Tho, as well as Soc Trang and Chau Doc farther afield. All towns have a number of attractions to check out and are good bases for forays into the Delta.

Ho Chi Minh City is some four hours to the north of Can Tho, plus you can also access the pumping holiday resort town of Vung Tau - to the south-east of Ho Chi Minh City.


One must-do place is Chau Doc, which is situated towards the Cambodia border and can be visited on a boat trip from Can Tho. Further afield, the Bac Lieu Bird Sanctuary may be of interest, along with the Dam Bi Bird Sanctuary, the Ca Mau Nature Reserve, and the pagodas and temples of Rach Gia.

Ho Chi Minh City

Ho Chi Minh City is an obvious 'nearby' trip, a few hours to the north - you may have entered Vietnam from the south at Chau Doc and hit Can Tho first. This is the south's largest city, formerly known as Saigon, and is one of the top spots in Vietnam. Ho Chi Minh City boasts buzzing street markets, a large Chinatown area and many famous landmarks and pagodas, as well as the family attractions of the Dam Sen Park, the Dai The Gioi Water Park, and the Botanic Gardens and Zoo. Vung Tau is the closest beach resort town to Ho Chi Minh City and has nice beaches and good entertainment, and can also be reached directly from Can Tho, although is quite a journey. This resort lies on a peninsula and is good for walking, coming with some interesting sights to boot, including a lighthouse and pagodas.

Chau Doc

Chau Doc is a stunning Mekong Delta city sited just under three hours to the north-west of Can Tho, residing near the border with Cambodia, where it is an important crossing point. The riverside and markets are a major highlight of Chau Doc, along with the stunning mountain scenery and multitude of paddy fields surrounding the city. Tourists should be sure to pay a visit to the Phuoc Dien Temple, an official historical Vietnamese monument.

Tra Vinh

Tra Vinh is on the road down from Ho Chi Minh City, around two hours to the east of Can Tho, and is best known for its Khmer pagodas, due to the large number of Khmer Krom residents - Cambodian people. This riverside town is worthy of a short trip, although perhaps not as a destination. Getting on a fishing trip is a popular Tra Vinh pastime, while the Ong Pagoda, the Ong Met Pagoda, the Hang Pagoda and the Uncle Ho Temple are all of note. Close to Tra Vinh are various attractions, such as the Chua Co monastery, the ancient ruins of Luu Cu and the yellow-sandy Ba Dong Beach.

Ben Tre

Lying just over an hour away and to the north-east is the charming province of Ben Tre, which is just a short distance south of My Tho and functions as a burgeoning tourism destination, with various waterfront sights and rustic settlements. Located in central Be Tre is the imposing Vien Minh Pagoda, which operates as the headquarters for the Buddhist Association of the Ben Tre province. At the Ben Tre Museum you will find some American war memorabilia and a collection of old weaponry. Just under 40 km / 25 miles to the east, the San Chim Vam Ho Bird Sanctuary is a popular attraction and connected by speedboats.

My Tho

My Tho is roughly equidistant between Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City, being around 90 km / 56 miles away and the first town you come to on the Mekong Delta, when heading down from the south. Many people therefore consider My Tho to be the gateway into the Mekong Delta. My Tho has long been a popular place from which to take boat tours of the Delta, with small wooden boats navigating the Mekong River and the smaller canals, passing rural villages along the way. The Central Market, the Cao Dai Temple and the Vinh Trang Pagoda are just some of the other highlights.

Soc Trang

Soc Trang is off to the south of Can Tho, being around 65 km / 40 miles away and situated on the Hau River, down at the coast. This Mekong town is made up of Kinh folk, along with ethnic Chinese and Khmers, and comes with dozens of pagodas, including the Bat Pagoda and the Kh'Leang Pagoda. Also here is the Clay Pagoda (Chua Dat Set), the Im Som Rong Pagoda and the Khmer Museum (Bao Tang Tinh Soc Trang), while the annual Oc Bom Boc Festival (Water Festival) each year draws thousands from all over Vietnam and even from Cambodia. Getting here is by way of Highway 1.

Sa Dec

Sa Dec is a peaceful town and is only 38 km / 24 miles away from Can Tho, being easy to reach in under an hour. There are a number of attractions based in Sa Dec, namely the old colonial villas, the Huong Tu Pagoda and the very fragrant and colourful flower markets. Various flower nurseries and gardens are situated in Sa Dec, with the Tu Ton Rose Garden being amongst the most impressive and at its busiest during the Tet Festival holiday each February.

Cao Lanh

Around an hour to the north of Can Tho is Cao Lanh, a relatively new jungle town surrounded by swamps. Although the town has a definite lack of tourist-appeal, most day trippers come here for its outlying nature reserves, which are some of the Mekong Delta's very best and reached by boat. The White Stork Sanctuary and the Rung Tram Forest are especially noteworthy. To the north of Cao Lanh is the Tram Chim National Park, where well in excess of 200 different bird species live and breed.

Vinh Long

Vinh Long is a medium-sized Mekong town with a population of around 140,000 people, and sits just 41 km / 25 miles to the north-east, being ideal for a day trip. This town has become something of a major Vietnamese transport hub and life can be hectic along its riverbanks and around the bustling Cai Be Floating Market. Many people take an excursion to Vinh Long - not to explore the town, but instead to take a boat trip around the beautiful islands dotted along the river, such as both An Binh and Binh Hoa Phuoc. Don't miss out on a trip to the riverside Van Thanh Mieu Temple.