Can Tho Shopping and Districts

(Can Tho, Mekong Delta, Vietnam)

Can Tho offers pretty decent shopping options and has standard Vietnamese shophouse stores, as well as sizeable, glitzy malls. Not many people realise this, as it is located smack-bang in the Mekong Delta.

Can Tho is particularly good on fashion and there are many designer shops and boutiques. It is also, of course, good on market tack and the combination of land-based and water-based markets will delight ardent shoppers in search of authenticity and Vietnamese souvenirs.

When to Shop and Where

Perhaps the best shopping experience tourists can have in Can Tho is to charter a boat and cruise the rivers and canals to check out the floating markets. These places are a real buzz and are perfect for picking up local products. All types of souvenirs and crafts can be had here, along with exotic fruits and spices.

Markets open dawn to dusk, and while fun, it is essential to haggle to get your price. While things may seem cheap, prices are always marked up, without exception, for tourists. The main market at Cai Khe is the best bet for authentic Vietnamese goods.

When it comes to fashion shopping Can Tho does well, as traders bring in the latest trends from Ho Chi Minh City and there are many trendy boutiques and cute little shops to dive into. There are also several supermarkets in the city, including the Co-op Mart, the Citymark and the Vinatex Plaza, and these places have food courts, too.

Can Tho is also known for its antiques stores and there are some good deals to be had. Know what you are buying, though, as not everything is genuine and there is no comeback when shopping at the market. You should also be aware that it is illegal to 'export' certain genuine Vietnamese antiques.