Can Tho
Can Tho Province is located in the centre of the Mekong Delta, bordered by Dong Thap and Vien Long on the northeast; by Soc Trang on the southeast; by Bac Lieu on the southwest; by Kien Giang and An Giang on the northwest.Can Tho city, for over 200 years the provincial main town, was once known as Tay Do, or Capital in the West.
General information:
Area: 1,401.6 sq. km
Population: 1,139,900 habitants (2006).
Administrative divisions:
- Districts: Ninh Kieu, Binh Thuy, Cai Rang, Thot Not, O Mon
- Rural districts: Phong Dien, Co Do, Vinh Thanh, Thoi Lai.
Ethnic groups: Viet (Kinh), Khmer, Hoa, Cham…
Location:
Can Tho Province is located in the centre of the Mekong Delta on the south bank of the Hau River, 170 km southwest of Ho Chi Minh City. It is bordered by Dong Thap and Vinh Long on the northeast; by Soc Trang on the southeast; by Bac Lieu on the southwest; by Kien Giang and An Giang on the northwest. Can Tho city, for over 200 years the provincial main town, was once known as Tay Do, or Capital in the West.
Weather:
Can Tho has a complex of rivers and canals such as Hau, and Can Tho rivers, Thot Not, O Mon canals. Among them, the Hau Riveris considered a benefactor of this region, since yearly floods deposit large quantities of alluvia to the rice fields. Thank to that Cantho becomes “the green lungs of the Mekong Delta”. The climate is harmonized with few of storms. It is hot, humid all year round. Rainy season lasts from May to November, and dry season lasts from December to April. The annual average temperature is 27oC.
Transportation:
Can Tho is 34 km from Vinh Long, 62 km from Long Xuyen, 63 km from Soc Trang, 104 km from My Tho, 116 km from Rach Gia, 117 km from Chau Doc, 170 km from Ho Chi Minh City and 179km from Ca Mau.
- Highways: Can Tho has National Highway No.1A, 91, 80 linking to An Giang, Kien Giang provinces.
- Waterways: Can Tho has Cai Cui international seaport. The city is the centre of waterway network of Mekong Delta. There are daily hydrofoils between Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City. Cruising on small tourist boat to visit villages and floating markets is an exciting activity when traveling in Can Tho.
- Airways: Can Tho has Tra Noc Airport which will be upgraded to become an international airport by 2010.
Tourism:
Can Tho is over its 200 years as the main town, once known as Tay Do and now one city of Vietnam. All of economic, culture activities closely relate to river and canals which like the ’street’. Can Tho has simple, poetic beauty with well-off villages under shade of coconut trees. It is wonderful to take a boat trip along the riverbanks on fine weather days. On the east bank of Hau River is Ninh Kieu Wharf, which is well known for its beautiful location.
Can Tho Tourist Gardens are a series of modern tourism gardens have appeared on every land and water route in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. The gardens of My Khanh, San Duong, Ba Lang and Tan Binh extend along the arched highway, as well as on the waterways of hong Dien and Phung Hiep rivers. Other gardens in Long My, Vi Thanh, O Mon and Thot Not are also developing. The My Khanh Gardens occupy 2.2 ha and feature more than 20 species of fruit trees and flowers, as well as diverse species of birds, fish, tortoises, snakes, crabs and shrimp. Under the shade of lush green trees, there are small rong houses to provide visitors with a place to rest for the night.
Other interesting places are Bang Lang Stock Sanctuary, Binh Thuy Ancient house and floating markets.: Cai Rang Floating Market (6 kilometres from Can Tho); Phong Dien Floating Market 20 kilometres southwest of Can Tho, the best floating market in the Mekong Delta; Phung Hiep Market close by Can Tho (Soc Trang direction). Bustling floating markets on the Hau River at Con Khuong, Con Son and further afield, Con Tan Loc in the more prosperous Thot Not District. Cai Rang is the largest floating market in the Mekong and the traders are more motorised, but the markets at Phung Hiep and Phong Dien are more relaxed and less crowded.
