How To Reach Can Tho

Can Tho is the largest and most famous city in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam. It is also called Tay Do which means the “Western Capital”. The city is well-known for its floating markets, fresh produce and unique geographical location on in the South side of the Mekong River. Having not lost its charm of being a rural area, it is slowly and steadily developing into a developed urban area of trade and commerce. It is best reached via bus or private taxi from Ho Chi Minh City due the network of well-connected roadways available. Having no railway station of its own, the other recommended way to reach is by flying to Can Tho International Airport, about 10 km away from the heart of the city.

The best and most popular way to reach Can Tho is via one of the numerous bus and taxi options available. Majority of visitors can get to Can Tho via Ho Chi Minh City, which has busses departing on an hourly basis. There 3 main operating bus services are Mai Linh, Phuong Trang and Thanh Buoi Buses. The journey takes nearly 3 to 4 hours to get to Can Tho’s central bus station. Alternatively visitors can hire private taxis and travel via the QL1A highway to get to their destination.

Approximately 10 km away from the city centre, Can Tho International Airport is well-connected to most of the major international destinations. The airport can be reached via Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Vasco from most of the significant neighbouring cities like Dalat (an hour away), Danang (1.5 hours away), Hanoi (2 hours away), the closest being from Phu Quoc (1 hour away). However, there are no direct flight from Ho Chi Minh City. From any of these airports visitors can alternatively take a bus or taxi to get to their destination. This is an efficient way to reach for international visitors.

Apart from a few overnight cruise facilities, there are no organised boat facilities to get to Can Tho. Local private companies organise Mekong River cruises from Ho Chi Minh City, which normally takes 2 days for visitors to get to their destination. With no rail services to either, visitors are best off driving down to via the Can Tho Bridge that was constructed back in 2011.

Although it is quite a large city, the distance between the main city centre and the quay is reachable on foot. Alternatively visitors can rent or hire taxis and motorbikes to get in and around the city efficiently. There are also local ferries available for visitors looking for a more unique way to explore the city locally.