Exotic cuisine, breathtaking views, there are many reasons why traveling and food simply go hand in hand. You can’t really experience a place you have never been to unless you have to taste the culture to understand it. Our selective Can Tho foods & restaurants might just make you reach for your passport and pack your appetite.

Let your stomach lead you to delicious restaurants in Can Tho or enjoy cocktails and drinks with a meal at pubs and rooftop bars in Can Tho. The variety of Can Tho food options is mind blowing – sit down to riverside dining, tuck into street food, hang out at outdoor restaurants or eat weird food like the locals.

By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Can Tho Visitor Guide

0. Free Can Tho Food Tour – 6:30 PM Daily

If you are a fan of culinary culture this Tour is made right for you. Join us on a route through the heart of Can Tho City by night and savour pleasant dishes at different spots; every bite you taste will have an incredible story to tell you, because many of them have come to the present from an ancient past and an agriculture root.

Free Can Tho Food Tour is a unique gastronomic tour, where you decide how much you will eat and how much you will spend. There is no predetermined menu, no obligation to eat anything, everything will be according to your taste, choices and budget. Read more info before booking a free tour here

1. Authentic Can Tho Food at Mau Than 1968 Restaurant

Find them: Vu Dinh Lieu, Nam Long Residential Area, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City (Google Maps here)

Best time: After 11am

Don’t miss: All Mekong foods and specialties.

Facts: Mau Than 1968 is a restaurant specializing in serving authentic dishes close to the homeland of Can Tho. With the open space of the kitchen area, diners are very excited to order and enjoy. The prices are very affordable and the food is fresh and served very quickly.

2. Grilled Pork Saugage Thanh Van

Find them: 17 Hoa Binh Boulevard, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: 6:30 am – 9:30 pm

Don’t miss: Fried spring rolls

Local’s pick: Grilled saugage Thanh Van (Nem Nướng Thanh Vân)

Tourist’s pick: De Tham street and Can Tho night market also have grilled pork sau

Facts: Nem Nướng (Vietnamese grilled pork skewers) is Vietnam’s answer to a smoky sweet and savory pork skewer! They’re EASILY a party favorite and so succulent that everyone will be asking for more. You’ll find them perfect for grilling on the BBQ, in the oven or over a stove!

3. Ninh Kieu Sky Bar

Find them: Rooftop of Ninh Kieu Riverside Hotel in Ninh Kieu wharf (Google Maps here)

Best time: After 3 pm till late

Don’t miss: All drinks, cocktails and wines

Facts: Ninh Kieu rooftop sky bar of Ninh Kieu riverside hotel is located right in the city center and 2 views of the Can Tho river, Can Tho bridge and fanciful Ninh Kieu wharf. This place is one of the most beautiful places to see the magical Can Tho at night.

4. Bun Rieu (Noodle Soup) at Can Tho Floating Market

Book Can Tho Daily Tours:

Can Tho Food Tour & Sky Bar (Responsible and Fun tour)

Can Tho Motorbike Food Tour (On the back of Scooters, Extreme fun & Kid-freindly for the evening)

Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559

hello@vemekong.com

Find them: Cai Rang Bridge, Cai Rang District, Can Tho City. About 6 km from Can Tho city center. (Google Maps here)

Best time: Breakfast time

Don’t miss: Hu Tieu or Bun Rieu

Local’s pick: Bún Rieu Cua Đồng at Cai Rang floating market

Facts: You can enjoy a fresh coconut, Vietnamese coffee and even try local bun rieu – noodle soup…from the floating boats. In the US program Masterchef season 4, episode 21, broadcast on August 28, 2013 on Fox TV channel, Vietnamese noodle soup has become a difficult topic for the contestants in the top 5. Gordon Ramsay’s favorite dish when he came to Cai Rang floating market, Can Tho, Vietnam. Do not miss the noodle soup (Hu Tieu or Bun Rieu) there!

5. Vietnamese Scorched Rice with Caramelized Fish Sauce

Find them: Tran Phu Street, Cai Khe Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

Don’t miss: Com Chay Kho Quet with sesame

Local’s pick: Cơm Cháy Kho Quẹt Má Bảy (on Tran Phu Street)

Tourist’s pick: in Ninh Kieu wharf, Ninh Kieu Night market…a lot of them in Can Tho city center.

Facts: Cơm Cháy Kho Quẹt, Vietnamese scorched rice with caramelized fish sauce, is a specialty of the southwestern region and is widely popular with visitors. With its distinctive fragrance, the dish is enticing to eat. Its uniquely crunchy texture is guaranteed to leave you wanting more from the first bite!

6. Duck Meat Pancake at 7 Toi Pancake

Find them: 45 Hoang Quoc Viet, An Binh Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: 7:30 am – 9:30 pm

Don’t miss: Cu hu dua (coconut core) pancake with duck meat

Local’s pick: 7 Toi pancake restaurant

Tourist’s pick: Many pancake restaurants in the city center like Tan Dinh pancake (near Azerai resort, Victoria resort), Ca Mau pancake (near Muong Thanh hotel) or De Tham street (right in the city center)

Facts: Bánh xèo (pronounced BAN-sew) – pancakes, or Vietnamese crepes, are rice flour pancakes that bring a light batter and ample fillings together for one tasty, crispy breakfast or snack! It is a popular street food in Vietnam. In the southern region Bánh xèo are larger and made with more veggies and mung beans. While in the central regions, they tend to be made smaller and without mung beans. The name literally translates to “sizzling cake,” after the sound the rice batter makes when it is poured into the hot pan. But, in the States, these pancakes are also known as Happy Pancakes.

7. Ut Dzach Fine Rice Vermicelli in Phong Dien

Find them: Nhon An, Phong Dien, Can Tho. (Google Maps here)

Best time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Don’t miss: Explore the fruit garden

Local’s pick: Ut Dzach Fine Rice Vermicelli family

Tourist’s pick: Many of this food are serving in the city center for tourists!

Facts: One of Can Tho’s best authentic foods is Ut Dzach fine rice vermicelli (Vietnamese name: Bánh hỏi mặt võng Út Dzách Cần Thơ) where a real food lover always adds it in their wishlist. Banh hoi mat vong (thin and soft hammock-shaped vermicelli), right from the name, we can already imagine the shape and ingenuity when making this cake. The reason the cake is named like the image of the cake is because of the lines that cross each other like a mesh, as well as the combination with the ingenuity of the baker to create an attractive product.

8. Best Sandwich at Banh Mi Thuy (Ba Co)

Find them: 2 Nam Ki Khoi Nghia Street, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: 6:00 am – 10:00 am; 4:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Don’t miss: Banh Mi Pate and pork loaf (cha lua)

Local’s pick: Banh Mi Thuy (Banh Mi Ba Co)

Tourist’s pick: Can Tho night market, Ninh Kieu night market, Can Tho street foods.

Facts: Banh Mi is a Vietnamese sandwich that’s made up of an odd sounding combination – crusty bread rolls smeared with pate, mayo, suspicious looking Asian ham, pickled vegetables, green onion, coriander/cilantro, a mighty wack of fresh chillies and drizzle of seasoning. It tastes like a rich ham sandwich with a hit of Asian freshness. It’s a sensation of flavours and textures that’s generated a cult following all around the world. The most sought after Banh Mi vendors have lengthy queues from early morning – both Can Tho and in Vietnam!

9. Countryside Foods and Garden at Mekong Silt Ecolodge

Find them: Nguyen Van Cu Street, My Khanh Ward, Phong Dien District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: After 11am

Don’t miss: Fried spring rolls & banana blossom salad

Facts: Mekong Silt Ecolodge is a beautiful home garden-stay that serves visitors to eat and drink and has a swimming pool.

10. Cong Cake (Banh Cong) Co Ut

Find them: De Tham Street and Ly Tu Trong Street, An Cu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: After 2pm

Don’t miss: Fried spring rolls

Local’s pick: Banh Cong Co Ut

Tourist’s pick: Many Cong cake local restaurants in Can Tho city center.

Facts: It’s called “Banh Cong” because people use a “Cong” to cook. A “Cong” has a long handle and looks like a small metal milk bottle. In the Mekong Delta, people still use “Cong” as a unit of measures in dealing at the market. “Cong” has many sizes:  ½ “xị”, 1 “xị” (4 “xị” equal to 1 liter), ½ liter, 1 liter and the biggest size is 2-liters Cống. Banh Cong is made with rice flour mixed with wheat flour to keep Banh Cong soft and crispy….Read more

11. Can Tho Street Foods in De Tham Eat Zone

Book Can Tho Daily Tours:

Can Tho Food Tour & Sky Bar (Responsible and Fun tour)

Can Tho Motorbike Food Tour (On the back of Scooters, Extreme fun & Kid-freindly for the evening)

Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559

hello@vemekong.com

Find them: De Tham Street, An Cu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: Dawn – dust

Don’t miss: Sea food soup, chuối bọc nếp nướng (Grilled banana wrapped in sticky rice), fetal duck egg (balut), mini sticky rice cake, bánh tằm khoai mì (cassava silkworm cake) and many fresh tropical fruits and durian fruit…

Local’s pick: De Tham street and its local eat zone

Tourist’s pick: Can Tho night market and Ninh Kieu night market

Facts: You can find a lot of foods and fruits from dawn to dust on De Tham street and nearby. There are also many Can Tho vegetarian restaurants here as well.

12. Cafe 1985 Can Tho (Coffee & Local Live Music at night)

Find them: 138 Huynh Cuong Street, An Cu Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: Dawn – dust

Don’t miss: Local live music

Local’s pick: Cozy live music at Cafe 1985 Can Tho

Tourist’s pick: Live music at Can Tho floating restaurant & Ninh Kieu floating restaurant

Facts: Cafe 1985 Can Tho has a classic style mixed with a decoration like a country house, this always makes you feel warm and relaxed when enjoying coffee with melodious music at any time.

13. Egg Coffee at Can Tho Museum Cafe

Find them: 1a Hoa Binh Boulevard, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: Dawn – dust

Don’t miss: Black coffee with ice and less sugar

Local’s pick: Indoor with AC

Tourist’s pick: Outdoor seats with many old tanks and mean of warfares on display in the courtyard of the museum.

Facts: Like one of Can Tho hidden gems for those who love to sit back and enjoy Can Tho now and then.

14. Fresh Spring Rolls at Can Tho Cooking Class

Find them: www.vemekong.com; hello@vemekong.com

Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559

Best time: After the floating market and cycling tour

Don’t miss: Dip and flip the homemade sauce 

Local’s pick: On De Tham street

Tourist’s pick: Many locals restaurants serve this food but it is not as fun as the Can Tho cooking class run by Vemekong.

Facts: There are many types of rice paper to make the fresh spring rolls with meats, local native veggies and for vegetarians too.

15. Sao Hom Riverside Restaurant at Ninh Kieu Wharf

Find them: Hai Ba Trung Street, Tan An Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City. (Google Maps here)

Best time: 6:00 am – 10:30 pm

Don’t miss: All Mekong foods, Can Tho foods and specialties.

Local’s pick: There are many good local restaurants like this located along Hai Ba Trung street and near Ho Chi Minh monument, Ninh Kieu wharf.

Tourist’s pick: Sao Hom restaurant with riverside views

Facts: Sao Hom restaurant is a restaurant specializing in serving authentic dishes close to the homeland of Can Tho. With the open space restaurant and amazing Can Tho river views all day and night. You are better off making a reservation beforehand. The prices are reasonable, the location is great, the food and the service is very good.

Pro Tips

Here are our tips for easing your mind (and stomach) around food-handling environments that you may not be used to.

Make sure the food is freshly cooked. If you’re eating hot street food, it’s always safest (not to mention more delicious) to eat food you can see being cooked to order.

Look for lines and busy stalls. Busy street food stalls are an indicator of popularity, and their high turnover rate means the food is never sitting out for hours and developing dreaded bacteria. Yes, long lines can be discouraging when you’re hungry after a full day of exploring, but it’s not worth the risk of grabbing precooked food from the empty spot next door.

Eat when the locals are eating. The last and most important element here is when to eat. You’re likely already on a weird eating schedule while you’re traveling, but it’s important to try and adjust to the eating times of where you are. A bowl of pho might be lunch for Americans, but it’s breakfast for the Vietnamese. This ensures that you’re eating freshly cooked food and that you can find the best and most popular places to eat.

If you can’t drink the water, then you can’t eat the salad. Most people get so hung up on not drinking the water or skipping ice in drinks that they don’t think about all of the other ways in which water is used in food service. Fruits and vegetables tend to be washed with tap water in most places, rather than the filtered water that locals drink—or sometimes it’s not washed at all. If you’re really craving some produce, try fruits you can peel or cooked veggies.

Trust your gut. If you’re unsure about the food or the way that it’s being prepared, then keep moving. Eating street food all over the world doesn’t make you an expert. Every stall and every country are different, and sometimes the rules can be harder to follow. When something doesn’t look, smell, or feel right, don’t eat it! Trust your judgment. Chances are that there’s another spot close by that’s making something more delicious.

If you plan to extend your travel to Can Tho homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.

Visit Can Tho or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Can Tho responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

Can Tho food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Can Tho cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cong cake in Can Tho, Ut Dzach Fine Rice Vermicelli…

Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.

Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Can Tho in the rainy season, as Can Tho always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.

Can Tho tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Can Tho Wildlife & Forest, Binh Thuy Ancient House, Organic Cacao farm, Can Tho Floating Markets, Can Tho Small Canals & Sampan Ride, Can Tho Fruit Garden, Can Tho Paddy Rice Fields, Can Tho Giant Ficus Tree – Secret VC base, Can Tho Rice Noodle Factory, Cai Rang floating market, Can Tho Old Market, Phong Dien floating market, Truc Lam Phuong Nam Zen Monastery, Can Tho to Con Dao – Express boat, Son Islet – Community-based Tourism…

Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Can Tho, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!

“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.

Thank you