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

Should you visit Can Tho or Sado?

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 Sado can help you decide which place is right for you.

Can Tho

Can Tho is a fascinating, vibrant, and friendly city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping. See Can Tho travel costs.

Sado

Sado is a cultural, off-the-beaten-path, and traditional island. Visitors also love the hiking, museums, and food. See Sado travel costs.

Can Tho and Sado: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Can Tho or Sado?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Can Tho. Although Can Tho and Sado are popular destinations, Can Tho has more sights and attractions for tourists. Can Tho is very popular for its nightlife, shopping, and big city activities, while Sado attracts visitors for its hiking. Can Tho is more touristy than Sado and is popular for its colorful floating markets, fresh produce, friendly people, and intricate waterways. It is also well known for Cai Rang Floating Market. Sado is famous for its beautiful scenery, traditional culture, and population of endangered crested ibis.

How is Can Tho different from Sado?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sado 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 Sado?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Can Tho and Sado.

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.

With a variety of museums, monuments, and historical sights, a trip to Sado can be an interesting and educational experience. The former gold mines are open to the public and fascinating to explore. For a traditional town, head to Shukunegi, which has narrow alleys and historic homes. Also worth a visit is the Sado History Museum.

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

Both Can Tho and Sado offer a number of great 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 Sado is an experience not to be missed. You'll find great seafood including crab, tuna, and prawns. There are also fresh vegetables, rice, and other typical Japanese ingredients in the area.

Is Can Tho or Sado Better for Nightlife?

Can Tho is a popular place for nightlife. However, Sado is a mediocre island for nightlife and partying.

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.

Sado doesn't offer many options. This is a quiet island and doesn't have much in the form of nightlife.

Is Can Tho or Sado Better for Hiking?

Sado is great for hiking. However, Can Tho is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Sado for the hiking trails. There is wonderful hiking on the island. Head to the Osado Mountain Range for wildflowers and spectacular views and scenery.

Can Tho is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Can Tho or Sado?

Can Tho is an unbeatable place for shopping. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its shopping opportunities.

Can Tho is a famous shopping destination with plenty of 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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Sado has some nice offerings. You'll find shops where you can pick up any necessities that you may have forgotten. There are also souvenir shops where you can find local items to remember your trip.

Is Can Tho or Sado Better for Families?

Can Tho is notable for its family-friendly activities. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Can Tho is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Sado is a family-friendly city. The former gold mines are fascinating and open to the public. There are also parks and interesting wildlife such as the Japanese ibis that you can see.

Is Can Tho or Sado Better for Couples?

Can Tho is notable for romance. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its romantic activities.

Can Tho is a very popular place to visit for couples. 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.

Sado makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area's history and nature make it a unique place for a couple's trip. There are museums, and outdoor spaces that you visit as well as the interesting mines.

Is Can Tho or Sado Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Can Tho is notable for backpackers. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Can Tho. 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.

Sado is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels as well as guesthouses that backpackers can stay at while they're in town.

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

Can Tho is a moderate city for its public transit. However, Sado is a mediocre island for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is quite limited in Sado. There are no trains on the island and the bus routes are infrequent and slow. You really must have a car to explore the area.

Is Can Tho or Sado a more walkable city?

Can Tho is a popular place for its walkability. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its high level of walkability.

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

Sado is not a very walkable city. The island isn't particularly walkable, so you'll want to have a vehicle to explore.

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

Should I spend more time in Sado or Can Tho?

How long in Can Tho or Sado?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Can Tho and Sado. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Sado than in Can Tho. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Can Tho, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sado.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Can Tho than Sado 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 Can Tho.

One day in Can Tho or Sado?

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Can Tho. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One day is usually enough time to experience most activities.

In Sado, you'll find food and museums. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. 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 Sado?

Can Tho is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the shopping. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Sado, you'll find museums and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Sado has to offer.

Five days in Can Tho or Sado?

You'll find museums and nightlife around the friendly destination of Can Tho. This city offers something for everyone. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

Sado is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this 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 Sado?

The friendly city of Can Tho offers nightlife and food. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. 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 Sado. Many people enjoy the museums and food when visiting Sado. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. 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 Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Can Tho and Sado, we can see that Sado is more expensive. And not only is Can Tho much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Can Tho would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Can Tho 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 Sado would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sado than you might in Can Tho.

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 Sado Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Can Tho or Sado?

Sado has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Can Tho experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Can Tho or Sado in the Summer?

Both Sado and Can Tho during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Can Tho because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the summer months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Can Tho is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Can Tho average around 28°C (82°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In the summer, Can Tho often gets less sunshine than Sado. Can Tho gets 168 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Can Tho. Can Tho usually gets more rain in July than Sado. Can Tho gets 313 mm (12.3 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Can Tho or Sado in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Can Tho and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Can Tho year-round. Also, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

Can Tho is much warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Can Tho averages around 28°C (82°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

Can Tho usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Sado during autumn. Can Tho gets 158 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Can Tho gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Can Tho usually receives more rain than Sado. Can Tho gets 343 mm (13.5 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. December to April in Can Tho is the dry season. Also, May to November is the rainy season in Can Tho.

Should I visit Can Tho or Sado in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Can Tho as well as Sado. Can Tho attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Sado for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Sado. In the winter, Can Tho is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Can Tho in January average around 26°C (78°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Can Tho this time of the year. In the winter, Can Tho often gets more sunshine than Sado. Can Tho gets 240 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Can Tho usually gets less rain in January than Sado. Can Tho gets 16 mm (0.6 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Can Tho or Sado in the Spring?

Both Sado and Can Tho are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Can Tho throughout the year.

In April, Can Tho is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Can Tho average around 29°C (84°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Can Tho. Can Tho usually receives more sunshine than Sado during spring. Can Tho gets 235 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun in the spring.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. It's quite rainy in Can Tho. In April, Can Tho usually receives around the same amount of rain as Sado. Can Tho gets 103 mm (4.1 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Can Tho is December to April. The rainy season in Can Tho is May to November.

Typical Weather for Sado and Can Tho