Should I spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Can Tho?

Should you spend 3, 4, or 5 days in Can Tho?

Most people spend one to two days in Can Tho during their visit. The unique city offers amazing highlights such as the quaint shops, the famous sights and museums, the cuisine, and the big city activities.

Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta. It's a transportation and commercial hub in the area, and many visitors use it as a base for visiting the nearby floating markets. The region's waterways are best explored by boat, and many visitors come to the area as part of an organized tour out of Ho Chi Minh City.

Do you have 3, 4, or 5 days to visit Can Tho? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is 3 days enough time in Can Tho?

Three days is more than enough time to see everything that Can Tho has to offer. After all, it's not such a huge city. Many visitors prefer to spend one to two days here, so you'll be able to take in all of the quaint shops, the famous sights and museums, the cuisine, and the big city activities at your own pace. We have a few suggestions of things to do while you're visiting, and then you can take a day trip if you're looking to explore further around the area.

How to spend 3 days in Can Tho

Shopping in Can Tho is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. 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.

You'll absolutely want to spend some time enjoying the food scene in this city, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine for a meal or two. 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.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Walking Food Tour in Can Tho ($32)

Don't miss Cai Rang Floating Market during your trip to Can Tho, as it's one of this destination's most well-known attractions. You should make sure to set aside enough time to see it.

This city is very popular for nightlife. After the sun goes down, head out to one of the many popular venues around town. 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.

Plenty of amazing museums and famous landmarks make Can Tho a special place to visit. Spend at least one full day visiting the sights that are appealing to you. 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.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Can Tho.

Is 4 days enough time in Can Tho?

Four days is more than enough time to see pretty much everything in Can Tho, as it's not as large as some other cities. You can move at your own pace and relax in your hotel. Go shopping, explore the museums and famous sights, sample the delicious cuisine, and soak up the big city atmosphere. You could also use Can Tho as a base for exploring the nearby destinations. You'll find some great day trips in the region.

Can Tho, Vietnam Can Tho, Vietnam

How to spend 4 days in Can Tho

Having 4 days in Can Tho will provide you with more time to take in the best activities in the city.

Can Tho is large enough to spend at least a full day exploring the local neighborhoods, attractions, and activities found around town. This is the fourth largest city in Vietnam and the largest in the Mekong Delta. It's a constantly growing city with more than a million people. Many visitors use it as a base for visiting the floating markets and the Mekong Delta.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Boat tour on Mekong river see the sunset, small canal, Vegan dinner, street food ($29)
  • Unwind with a Sunset Cruise on the Hau river ($36)
  • Boat tour visit 3 pagodas, Ancient house, see sunset on mekong river ($59)

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Can Tho.

Is 5 days enough time in Can Tho?

Five days provides ample opportunity to explore the entirety of Can Tho at your own pace to experience the quaint shops, the famous sights and museums, the cuisine, and the big city activities. Then you can use this city as a convenient base for venturing into smaller destinations nearby where you'll discover exciting day trip options.

How to spend 5 days in Can Tho

With 5 days in Can Tho, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

After you've explored most of Can Tho, take a day trip to one of the many beautiful destinations nearby.

There are plenty of restaurants you haven't tried yet, so don't miss another amazing meal at local places for lunch and dinner. Try to go out of your way to find the small, locally owned places that offer the charm and ambiance that can only be found in Can Tho.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Can Tho, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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