Getting Around Can Tho
Can Tho is a big city, but its centre is compact enough to explore on foot, and most hotels will hand you a map when you check in. Beyond walking, the practical ways to move around are motorbike, bicycle, taxi, and boat. Do bear in mind that despite the city's size, rush hour traffic can be pretty bad, and the centre gets congested — even for motorcycles.
Rail, Metro and Trams
There is no rail, metro or tram network to speak of in Can Tho. The source material describes no such services, so visitors should not plan on using them. Getting around the city and reaching it from elsewhere is done by road, air, and — on the water — by boat.
Buses and Public Transport
Can Tho is a regional hub, and long-distance buses are the mainstay of public transport into the city. Operators serve Can Tho from cities across the Mekong Delta and up to the centre and north of Vietnam, and minibuses connect the smaller towns. Most travellers arrive from Ho Chi Minh City, where buses leave every one to two hours around the clock from the Western Bus Station (Bến Xe Miền Tây). Smaller, more local buses from Saigon to Can Tho leave in the morning.
Three main operators serve the Ho Chi Minh City route and other destinations:
- Mai Linh — has a good reputation as an operator of buses and taxis. The service to Can Tho stops for a food break of about half an hour on the way, and free water is provided. Mai Linh no longer runs shuttle services for customers in Ho Chi Minh City, but will send a mini-van to pick you up if you book through your hotel in Can Tho.
- Phuong Trang (FUTA) — runs the largest number of services to Can Tho daily, with bright orange offices in the city. There is a stop at a large Phuong Trang service station with well-maintained toilets and a few restaurants. Free water is provided. In Can Tho, a shuttle bus will take you to your hotel if you have the address ready, included in the ticket price — head into the Phuong Trang Building after exiting the bus and a staff member will help you onto a minibus. Make sure the person helping you is a staffer and not a taxi driver. The same applies when departing: contact your hotel to ask FUTA to send a free shuttle to the central bus station.
- Thanh Buoi — provides the fastest service to Can Tho, stopping only briefly on the way from Ho Chi Minh City. On arrival in Can Tho, shuttle buses take you to your destination inside the city; have your hotel address ready, as the shuttle is covered by your ticket.
Big operators also have a departure point in the centre of the city on Le Hong Phong St, from where shuttle buses take you to Bến Xe Miền Tây. You can take a taxi there, or go straight to Mien Tay bus station. Look for the Thanh Buoi office (white background logo with a flower), Phuong Trang (red signs) or Mai Linh (all green). With most operators you get a small bottle of water included in the ticket price, and bigger buses offer air-con along with Vietnamese films and music shows — usually perceived as too loud for Western ears.
If you are arriving from Cambodia, you will probably stop in Chau Doc and catch a bus to Can Tho there. There is also one bus line directly from Phnom Penh once a day. Getting in by car from Cambodia as a tourist is difficult, not to say impossible, and that likely applies to bicycles and motorbikes too.
Taxis and Ride-Hailing
Mai Linh and Happy Taxi are the two main taxi operators in the city. Mai Linh also has a good reputation as a taxi operator more broadly. For longer journeys, it is possible to rent a taxi for almost the same price as a car for a one-way trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho — try hiring a Vinasun or Mai Linh taxi. Chauffeured cars are another option: a car with driver can be rented for a one-way trip (or a return trip on the same day) for two to three passengers from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho, with the driver included in the price. If you want to drive yourself, check the terms well in advance.
Motorbikes and Bicycles
It is easy to get around Can Tho by motorbike or bicycle. Motorbikes are also easy to rent in the tourist areas of Ho Chi Minh City, District 1; most rental shops will rent to you if you can show a driving licence from any country, and they may not ask for a licence at all. Be aware that you are only covered by accident insurance if your driving licence is valid in Vietnam — most European licences are not automatically accepted, and you might need to take an additional test with Vietnamese authorities to comply with local rules. Depending on your driving, you might be slightly faster by motorbike than by car.
Boats and Ferries
If you want to travel on the river, you can easily rent a boat service at Ninh Kieu Pier, and there are also ferries to surrounding areas from there. Note that apart from overnight boat cruises for tourists, there are no scheduled boat services to Can Tho — driving times to the city were reduced with the opening of the Can Tho Bridge and the completion of the motorway around Ho Chi Minh City, so the boat is a way to explore the waterways rather than a way to arrive.
Getting from the Airport into the City
Can Tho International Airport (VCA) is located north-west of the municipal centre and has a large international terminal with convenient facilities. It provides direct routes to other parts of Vietnam, including Hanoi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ha Long, Phu Quoc and Con Dao, operated by Vietnam Airlines, VietJet Air and Bamboo Airways. Flights also connect to Hanoi and Phu Quoc on Vietnam Airlines, and to Con Dao with Vasco Vietnam Airlines.
The source material does not describe a dedicated airport bus or train link, so plan on reaching the city by taxi or pre-arranged transfer — the airport sits a short drive from the centre, and taxis are readily available in the city. If you are continuing onward rather than staying, the long-distance bus operators above are the way to go, and several of them include a shuttle from their city office or bus station to your hotel.
Practical Tips
- Ask your hotel for a map — most will offer one, and the centre is walkable with it in hand.
- Book your bus through your hotel where possible: Mai Linh will send a mini-van to pick you up, and FUTA will send a free shuttle to collect you for your departure.
- Have your hotel address ready when you arrive by bus, since shuttle transfers to your accommodation are included with several operators.
- Allow extra time in the late afternoon and early evening, when the city centre gets congested.
- For river trips and ferries, head to Ninh Kieu Pier, where boat services can be rented on the spot.