Can Tho: A Real Mekong Tour, Floating Market, Cacao & Life's
  • ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 143 reviews
  • Can Tho, Ninh Kieu, Cai Rang
  • By Thomas Can Tho
05:00 AM – 11:00 AM Sampan (Small Boat) Up to 7pax Can Tho's countryside English speaking guide Veggie-friendly

The most off-the-beaten-path and educational Mekong boat trip in Can Tho includes: the floating market, local breakfast (vegie-friendly), the Mekong’s fish & farmer markets, glide through secret prettiest canals, cacao farm, Mekong life and nature and more.  A truly authentic experience – far from tourist traps and souvenir shops.

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Highlights
Take small boat to the floating market Visit the Mekong fish & farmer's market as a local Unclock Can Tho's secret prettest small canal Visit the organic cacao farm and taste chocolate Far from tourist traps and souvenir shops Enjoy Mekong nature & village canal-side walk
Itinerary
  • Pick-up
    At 05:00 AM, our car and tour guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer to the pier for embarking the small authentic sampan boat.
  • Can Tho floating market and the sunrise (sometimes) sampan ride
    Arrive at Cai Rang floating market – a must see in Can Tho, Mekong Delta. Your guide will explain and tell you why "early market" "why floating market here" and "why floating market is getting smaller after every 365 days" "why we should see it in real life, real smell before it disappears" and more. The experience includes the best noodle soup on the river tour. Even our guide will take care of your vegetarian breakfast as well. Find a reason to interact with the river life and enjoy the freshest pineapple in your tour.
  • Beyond the tourist trail with an intimate peaceful sampan ride
    Leave the crowds and the tourist floating market behind, and an intimate peaceful sampan ride through the top secret canals of Mekong Delta - Can Tho city lets you slow down and truly feel the peace of the Mekong. You drift quietly past lush greenery, hidden waterways, and authentic village life - a serene experience you will not find on the main river.
  • Visit the Mekong's fish and farmer market (non-touristy)
    Visit the Mekong's fish and farmer market (no-touristy) lets you see the Delta's true heartbeat. It's where locals trade fresh fish, fruits, and produce in a lively, authentic setting untouched by mass tourism. You'll witness real daily life, colorful scenes, and the spirit of community that sustains the Mekong.
  • Fantastic fresh air village walk along the canals
    Enjoy a fantastic fresh air village walk along the canals. It is the best way to unclock the Mekong agriculture, troipical orchards, water melon farm (seasonal), small canals and countryside life. (About 15 mintues walk)
  • Enjoy the fresh seasonal tropical fruits
    The tour will be serving the fresh seasonal tropical fruits at the floating market as well
  • Organic cacao farm
    The sampan keeps reaching to the organic cacao farm where the guide will tell you interesting stories about cacao and Mr. Cacao and how to make chocolates, wines, comestics... Have a glass of cacao milk (included).
  • Tour ends around 11am-11:30am at the hotel
    Car/taxi picks you up, and transfers back to your hotel in Can Tho City.
Guest photos
Better to know
Guest reviews

143 reviews on “Can Tho: A Real Mekong Tour, Floating Market, Cacao & Life’s

  1. Hannah McCarthy. from Ireland said:
    Verified ✓
    A poetic morning on the Mekong

    Waking up before 5AM usually sounds like punishment, but with a guide like Hannah (yes, same name!), it turned into poetry. From the moment we boarded the little sampan boat in the dark, I could feel it would be a special morning.
    The floating market wasn’t a postcard-perfect scene — it was better. Real, raw, and slowly waking up just like we were. Hannah gave context to everything: the signs, the boats, the shouting, and even the silences.
    Breakfast on the river was simple and tasty, and she made sure my no-meat preference was taken care of without fuss.
    What I loved most was the family-run rice noodle place. No staged photos, no souvenirs — just a woman working with her hands in steam and fire, crafting something beautiful.
    And then, those final canals. Like floating through someone’s memory. A child waved at us. An old man carried baskets. Birds called. I felt still, and grateful.

  2. Isabella Rossi. from Italy said:
    Verified ✓
    Cai Rang in dawnlight – unforgettable

    Minh was our guide and we loved every moment of the experience. The early morning mist, the quiet motor of the sampan, and the first sellers appearing on the river made for a stunning setting. Minh was very passionate and generous in explaining the history and meaning behind everything — from the decline of floating markets to how pineapple became such a symbol of the area.
    I’m vegetarian and Minh made sure my noodle breakfast was fully plant-based. It tasted amazing on the water!
    The rice noodle factory was a highlight. No tourists, no signs, just a working family. Minh translated and we had a warm chat with the woman who makes the noodles. I also learned the big difference between rice noodles and rice paper — something I’d never thought about.
    We ended in the calm canals where the only sound was our paddle and birdsong. I closed my eyes for a while, breathing in the stillness. Thank you Minh, it was simply perfect.

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Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory & Villages
March 27, 2021
PHOTO BY THOMAS VIETNAM, MEKONG COLLECTION
Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory & Villages

Nowadays, there are more and more green and responsible tours which are meaningful and educational as well. This is why Can Tho noodle factory is getting popular for both Vietnamese and foreigners to come and explore the cuisine culture and the typical local life in Can Tho, Mekong Delta.