The Best Hotels in Can Tho, Vietnam

Neon-lit Ninh Kieu is close to some of the Can Tho highlights. There’s a handful of museums nearby – on everything from military history to tarot – plus Buddhist temples and a plant-filled waterfront promenade, but the main draw is the night market. Had your fill of skewered street food? Head to the hotel sky bar for frozen cocktails and views of the Hau River. For updated rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, book a room in Block A.

All rooms at the French-colonial-style Victoria Hotel have balconies or balconettes with views of the gardens and two glorious pools. If the sun lounger life isn’t hitting the spot, treat yourself to a massage in one of the thatch-roofed spa huts overlooking the river. Don’t miss the breakfast cruise and trip to Can Tho floating market on the hotel’s refurbished rice barge.

With clean (if a little dated) rooms, friendly staff and an indoor/outdoor rooftop pool, West Hotel is a fine spot to stay in Can Tho. Rise early to browse the stalls at the large market next door, where you can pick up fresh fruit and snacks for a day of sightseeing. Ninh Kieu Wharf is also close by – the well-lit riverside garden is perfect for an evening stroll.

The 30-floor Vin Pearl is the tallest building in the Mekong Delta and offers some of the best views in the city – soak up the sunshine and that skyline from the rooftop pool. The hotel is a little way from the centre but still close enough to walk to the night market and authentic Vietnamese restaurants (try Sao Hôm on the riverfront).

You’ll need to catch a boat to reach Azerai Can Tho, which sits on a 3ha (8 acre) islet on the Hau River. It’s not far from the lively markets and gilded pagodas of the city – but the serene garden filled with banyan trees might fool you into thinking otherwise. Zen out with a free yoga class, a four-hand massage or a dip in the infinity pool. Luxurious rooms – each with garden, lake or river views – include shaded verandas, vaulted ceilings and oversized bathrooms.

A 20-minute drive from the city centre, Can Tho Ecolodge is a peaceful retreat on the banks of the Mekong. The 12 thatched cottages comprise 48 huge rooms, which come with freestanding baths made from jackfruit tree wood. Grab a free bicycle to ride to local villages, join a cooking class in Can Tho, or kick back in the pool or Jacuzzi surrounded by tropical gardens.

The compact self-contained units at Magnolia’s feature extra-large beds and kitchenettes. Take your morning coffee to the shared roof terrace, or grab a green smoothie from the cafe downstairs. The riverfront park, Can Tho night market and the incense-heavy air of Ong Temple are all within a 10-minute walking distance – but don’t miss a trip to Binh Thuy Ancient House, an ornate 19th-century merchant’s house north of the city.

Basic, budget-friendly rooms and welcoming staff – what more could a money-conscious traveller want? The out-of-town location means it’s usually peaceful but slim on doorstep attractions. Take advantage of the free bike rental, and brave the busy road to central Can Tho to see the likes of the French colonial Grand Prison (now a museum), or head southwest along the river to see locals haggling for durians at Cai Rang Floating Market.

The rooms and bungalows at Con Khuong Resort overlook a meandering lagoon, which is separated from the adjacent freeform pool by a thin partition. The greenery cascading from the balconies of the main building further blurs the line between man-made and organic elements on show in the manicured grounds. The resort is a short drive from the markets and restaurants of central Can Tho, as well as Binh Thuy Ancient House to the north.

For a wild getaway on the periphery of Can Tho, look no further than Nguyen Shack. These bamboo bungalows – made up of private rooms and shared dorms – sit within a tropical fruit orchard, where two of the Mekong River’s many branches diverge. Spend your days lazing by the narrow pool or watching the world go by from a hammock, before joining a river tour or local cooking class.