Can Tho, the delta's easiest base

Can Tho is a working city, not a riverside village. It is the commercial centre of the delta, and since 2025 its boundaries also take in the former provinces of Soc Trang and Hau Giang. The centre around Ninh Kieu pier has a riverside promenade, a pedestrian bridge and a night market that opens in the late afternoon. Away from the river it is traffic, shops and new building, much like any growing Vietnamese city.

What makes it a base worth sleeping in is the river. The Hau is wide here, and the city's high-end stays sit on or in it: a garden resort on the bank at Cai Khe, a resort on Con Au islet in mid-river, and a small suite hotel on the pier itself. Cai Rang floating market is about 6 km downstream, thirty to forty minutes by boat from Ninh Kieu.

Be clear about Cai Rang before you go. It is still the delta's main surviving floating market and has been recognised as national intangible heritage since 2016, but it is far smaller than at its peak. Roads and bridges have let traders switch to trucks, the pandemic accelerated that shift, and a growing share of the boats are now tourist boats. Between 06:00 and 07:30 it still trades. After about 08:00 it thins out quickly.

Two nights is the right number for most visitors. The first afternoon goes on arriving; the second morning on the river; the second afternoon on the hotel or a short outing. With one night, the 05:30 boat comes straight after a three-hour drive and is followed by another, and you see the hotel only in the dark.

Three nights makes sense at the islet resort, where the point is the quiet, or if you want a half day to Vinh Long and An Binh islet, about 40 km away, or to Sa Dec, about 60 km away.

By road from Saigon: about 170 km on the expressway through Trung Luong and My Thuan, crossing the Tien River on the My Thuan 2 bridge. Allow three to three and a half hours with traffic leaving the city. The Victoria resort quotes about two and a half hours, which is possible on a clear road.

By air: Can Tho airport (VCA) is about 9 km from the centre, around twenty minutes by car. The scheduled routes we found are all domestic and change by season; none is from Saigon, and Vietnam Airlines flies on to Phu Quoc.

From Chau Doc: about 120 km, two and a half to three hours. From Cai Be: about 71 km, an hour and a half to two hours.

• You have only one night and no interest in Cai Rang: the drive takes more than the stay gives.
• You want a remote, rural setting. Can Tho is a city; for countryside, look at the hill lodge at Chau Doc.
• You are going to Chau Doc and leaving by boat for Phnom Penh, with only two nights in total; spend both at Chau Doc.

Can Tho river resort, 2 nights stays only here. Can Tho and Chau Doc, 4 nights gives it two nights, and Saigon, the delta and Phu Quoc two nights between Cai Be and Chau Doc.