A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Can Tho vs. Gili Trawangan for Nightlife, Backpackers, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Can Tho and Gili Trawangan can help you decide which place is right for you.

Can Tho

Can Tho is a vibrant, friendly, and cultural city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, shopping, and museums. See Can Tho travel costs.

Gili Trawangan

Gili Trawangan is a idyllic, laidback, and tropical island. The beauty of Gili Trawangan is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Visitors also love the beaches, nightlife, and food. See Gili Trawangan travel costs.

Can Tho and Gili Trawangan: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Can Tho than Gili Trawangan, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Can Tho is better known for its museums and attractions, shopping, and big city activities, while Gili Trawangan is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and impressive beauty. Gili Trawangan is more touristy than Can Tho and is known for its beautiful water and impressive scuba diving. Can Tho is well known for its colorful floating markets, fresh produce, friendly people, and intricate waterways. Also, Can Tho is famous for Cai Rang Floating Market.

How is Can Tho different from Gili Trawangan?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Gili Trawangan and Can Tho. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

Can Tho is a very popular place for its museums and history. However, Gili Trawangan is lacking in good options for its museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Can Tho specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The main attraction nearby is Cai Rang Floating Market, but visitors also enjoy seeing Binh Thuy Ancient House, the Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory, Ong pagoda, and Nam Nha Pagoda.

Gili Trawangan offers a handful of options for museums and historical sights. There are a couple of art and cultural museums on the island, but most people spend their time soaking up the idyllic setting.

Is the Food Better in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Can Tho and Gili Trawangan offer a number of very good restaurants to choose from.

Can Tho has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's the largest city in the Mekong Delta, and there are many restaurants with rooftop views and lively atmospheres. The food is local and fresh. Grilled meats, noodle soup, and local produce are all popular. Many visitors come to Cantho specifically to experience the nearby floating markets. You really must sample the many dishes available at the markets, which are unique to the area and offer a whole new approach to street food.

Dining out in Gili Trawangan is an experience not to be missed. As the largest and one of the most touristy of the Gili Islands, you'll find a wide range of cuisines. There's everything from Mexican to Greek available. You'll also find plenty of tropical fruits and some local Indonesian cuisine as well.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan Better for Nightlife?

Gili Trawangan is a must-visit destination for nightlife and partying. Also, Can Tho is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its evening party scene.

Gili Trawangan is a world class party destination. This is the "party island" of the Gili Islands. It has a wild nightlife scene that is particularly popular with backpackers. There are tons of beach bars that have live music, DJs, and nightly parties. There are also regular boat parties. The party scene is pretty well coordinated across the bars, and one bar will stay open late each night while the others close around midnight. This keeps the partygoers concentrated in one location and keeps the energy high for everyone.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Can Tho. The city is very beautiful at night with many colorful lights. There are a number of bars and places for tourists to hang out and socialize.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan Better for Resorts?

Gili Trawangan is very good for its luxury resorts. However, Can Tho is not a resort destination.

With a selection of resorts, Gili Trawangan makes a nice vacation spot. The island was long known for its backpacker vibe which included poorly concentrated beach huts. More recently there's been an upswing in upmarket accommodation, particularly on the quieter western and northern sides of the island.

Can Tho is not a resort destination.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Gili Trawangan is a must-visit destination for its diving and snorkeling. However, Can Tho is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

The scuba diving and snorkeling in Gili Trawangan is not to be missed. Snorkeling and diving are a highlight on the island, and a big draw for many visitors. The island is small, with a large concentration of tourists, so if you book a boat trip, you'll likely be surrounded by others. This doesn't mean you won't be able to enjoy colorful fish, a magical undersea world, and the occasional sea turtle.

Can Tho is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan Better for Beaches?

Gili Trawangan is a must-visit destination for the beach. However, Can Tho is not a beach destination.

With world-famous beaches, Gili Trawangan is a very popular vacation destination. The island is filled with white sand beaches, most of which have restaurants and beachside bars nearby. One of the busiest beaches is near the port, but a quieter area is nearby Surf Point. The sunset side of the island is perfect in the evening when the sun starts to dip below the horizon, but the beaches on that side aren't as great as the other side of the island.

Can Tho is not a beach destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

Can Tho is a world-class destination for its shopping opportunities. However, Gili Trawangan is lacking in good options for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, Can Tho draws large crowds to its stores. The city is large with malls and a central market, but most visitors come specifically for the nearby floating markets. These unique markets are best visited by boat. Goods and food are sold out of vendor boats and popular food dishes include noodle soup and local fruits. Each boat has a tall bamboo stick displaying the items that it sells.

Gili Trawangan has some good spots for those that want to go shopping. You'll find most things you need on the island, but this isn't a place people usually shop for fun.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan More Beautiful?

Gili Trawangan is great for its scenery and beauty. However, Can Tho is not a destination known for its beauty.

The beauty of Gili Trawangan is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. Crystal blue waters and white sand beaches make this an idyllic island paradise. The setting is perfect for hanging out by the water and soaking up the island vibe.

Can Tho is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan Better for Families?

You'll find very good kid-friendly activities in either Can Tho or Gili Trawangan.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Can Tho is very family-friendly. Kids and adults alike will be fascinated by the floating markets and the beautiful Mekong Delta. Most visitors use this growing city as a base for exploring the area, which has a fascinating culture and interesting sights.

Gili Trawangan is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. There are many kid-friendly activities like snorkeling, kayaking, and biking. There are also glass bottom boat tours and a great laidback island vibe that kids and adults alike will enjoy. Do note that this is one of the more popular islands for backpackers, so there is a big party scene.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan Better for Couples?

Both Can Tho and Gili Trawangan are very good destinations to visit as a couple.

Can Tho is a great city if you're traveling as a couple. Couples can take a romantic evening boat ride on the Mekong Delta. During the morning hours, the floating markets are one of Vietnam's most interesting destinations. You can sample local dishes and experience a completely different way of life.

Gili Trawangan is a very popular place to visit for couples. White sand, blue water, and a true tropical island paradise make this a wonderful honeymoon destination. It's one of the more energetic of the Gili Islands, so if you're looking for a calm retreat, there may be better options, but it still has wonderful resorts and great diving.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Gili Trawangan is a must-visit destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Can Tho is not as popular, but is still a nice city for backpackers.

With so many budget-friendly offerings, Gili Trawangan is extremely popular for backpackers. It's the most popular of the Gili Islands for backpackers so you'll find tons of hostels and a great nightlife scene. The energy is high and the scenery and idyllic beaches are wonderful.

Can Tho is a very popular city for backpackers and budget travelers. This is a large city with a number of hostels and many backpackers who pass through during their trip to the floating markets and through the Mekong Delta.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Gili Trawangan is very good for times when you don't have a car. However, Can Tho is not a good destination for its public transit.

While Gili Trawangan offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. Many tourists enjoy getting around the island by cidomo, which are horse-drawn carts. Otherwise, walking or biking are your best options.

Public transit is generally limited in Can Tho. There are local buses, but many visitors come to this area as part of an organized tour because transportation can be a bit a tricky.

Is Can Tho or Gili Trawangan a more walkable city?

Gili Trawangan is great for its high level of walkability. Also, Can Tho is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

Gili Trawangan is a very walkable island. While it's the largest of the Gili Islands, it still small enough to walk around in about two hours and it's relatively easy to explore on foot.

Can Tho is a somewhat walkable city. The city center is relatively walkable.

For even more information, also check out Is Can Tho Worth Visiting? and Is Gili Trawangan Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Gili Trawangan or Can Tho?

How long in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

It's fun to spend time in either Can Tho or Gili Trawangan. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Gili Trawangan due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Can Tho, and 2-4 days is enough time in Gili Trawangan.

Families should spend more time in Gili Trawangan than Can Tho. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Gili Trawangan, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Gili Trawangan than Can Tho. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Gili Trawangan that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Gili Trawangan than Can Tho if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Gili Trawangan.

One day in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

In Can Tho, you'll find museums and nightlife. So, one day is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In Gili Trawangan, you'll find scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. This island offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

Can Tho is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Because of this, a weekend is usually enough time for a trip here.

In Gili Trawangan, you'll find nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Most people come for the beaches. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Gili Trawangan has to offer.

Five days in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Can Tho. It offers something for everyone. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Gili Trawangan is a great place to explore. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Can Tho or Gili Trawangan?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Can Tho. Your budget might influence how long you stay. One reason most visitors come is for the shopping. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Gili Trawangan. Many people enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and nightlife when visiting Gili Trawangan. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Ho Chi Minh City, The Best 10-Day Tours from Hanoi, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Can Tho and Gili Trawangan, we can see that Can Tho is more expensive. And not only is Gili Trawangan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Gili Trawangan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Gili Trawangan and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Can Tho would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Can Tho than you might in Gili Trawangan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Can Tho Expensive? and Is Gili Trawangan Expensive?.