1. A Delicately Scented Delight
Built facing the Can Tho River, close to its meeting with the Hau, the Ong Temple is a Buddhist treasure. But the first thing you notice about the place is the scent created by its continuously burning incense coils. Built in the 19th century in a Chinese style, it commemorates a god known as Kuang Kung, who represents stout virtues like justice and honor. And it does so in style, featuring lavish screens and golden ornaments throughout its interior.
2. A Different Way To Float A Stock
The Can Tho area is packed with floating markets, where traders converge from up and down the Hau's river banks. Unlike anything in the West, these markets are spellbinding places to see, but none are as big or welcoming as Cai Rang. Located just south of the city center, the market isn't really a place to shop for souvenirs (it caters mainly for wholesalers), but it's fascinating to be there and watch the trading take place. Boat tours can be joined from central Can Tho, or you can take it all in from the quay.
3. Meet The Delta's Winged Wonders
If you follow the road around 20 miles north of Can Tho along the Hau, you'll come to Bang Lang - and nature lovers will be in paradise. Bang Lang only occupies 1.3 hectares of the delta, but it packs in some incredible local residents, in the form of snowy egrets and storks, who nest here in their thousands. The locals tend to arrive in the sanctuary every night during nesting season around dusk, so if you are going to visit, that's the best time to go. Wear a hat (to avoid any unfortunate dive-bombing incidents), and you'll be treated to a magical avian scene.
4. Vibrant Street Life, Can Tho-Style
Can Tho's historic core is its most rewarding area to wander around and soak up some authentic Vietnamese street life. Xuan Khanh Market is a highlight, and a great place to pick up a banh mi sandwich and some exotic fruits, as is the Student Quarter, which is packed with churches and temples. It's also home to a street called "Hot Pot Alley" which, as the name suggests, is the number one place in town to grab some typical Can Tho Hot Pot, complete with spiced fish caught straight from the river. There's no better place to feel immersed in the town's everyday life.
5. A Living Lesson In Buddhist Hospitality
Located in Xuan Khanh, the Quang Duc Pagoda is its spiritual core, and a treat to visit. Built in a Khmer style and recently given a fresh lick of paint, Quang Duc is very much alive with religious energy, with a large community of working monks. But despite the hustle and bustle, the locals are always happy to welcome visitors, showing them around the tapestries, decorations, and explaining their religious significance.
