Cần Thơ, Mekong Delta, Vietnam

🇻🇳 Cần Thơ, also written as Can Tho or Cantho, is the fourth-largest city in Vietnam, and the largest city along the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam.

It is noted for its floating markets, rice paper-making village, and picturesque rural canals. It is located on the south bank of the Hậu River, a distributary of the Mekong River. In 2007, about 50 people died when the Cần Thơ Bridge collapsed, causing Vietnam's worst engineering disaster. In 2011, Cần Thơ International Airport opened.

The city is nicknamed the "Western Metropolis" (Tây Đô / 西都), and is located 169 km (105 miles) from Hồ Chí Minh City.

History During the Vietnam War, Cần Thơ was the home of the ARVN IV Corps capital. The ARVN 21st division was dedicated to protect the city of Cần Thơ, including the provinces of Chương Thiện (now in Hậu Giang), Bạc Liêu, An Xuyen (Cà Mau), Ba Xuyen (Soc Trang), and Kiên Giang. Before 1975, Cần Thơ was part of Phong Dinh province. On November 1, 1955, the third Light Division changed into the thirteenth Light Division, and the fifteenth, twelfth, and 106th regiments transformed into the 37th, 38th, and 39th regiments. The 37th and 38th Regiments consisted of battalions that originated in the present MR 3. The 39th regiment consisted of battalions from My Tho and Sa Dec in the Delta. The 39th Regiment participated in the successful campaigns against dissidents in Hua Hau in 1955–1956.

Administrative system The city is an independent municipality at the same level as the other provinces of Vietnam. It was created in the beginning of 2004 by a split of the former Cần Thơ Province into two new administrative units: Cần Thơ City and Hậu Giang Province.

Cần Thơ is subdivided into nine district-level sub-divisions: • 5 urban districts: ◦ Bình Thủy ◦ Cái Răng ◦ Ninh Kiều ◦ Ô Môn ◦ Thốt Nốt • 4 rural districts: ◦ Cờ Đỏ ◦ Phong Điền ◦ Thới Lai ◦ Vĩnh Thạnh

They are further subdivided into five commune-level towns (or townlets), 36 communes, and 44 wards.

Ninh Kiều, which has the well-known Ninh Kiều port, is the central district and also the most populated and wealthiest of these districts.

The city borders the provinces of An Giang, Hậu Giang, Kiên Giang, Vĩnh Long and Đồng Tháp.

Transport Before 1975, National Highway 4 (now National Route 1) bypassed the ferry from Binh Minh, VL to Cần Thơ where the ARVN 21st division patrolled heavily the ferry transportation to protect the civilians and ship merchants. South of the National Highway 4 from Cần Thơ to Ba Xuyen province (Soc Trang) were mainly heavily patrolled by ARVN soldiers to prevent route disruption.

Today, Cần Thơ is connected to the rest of the country by National Route 1A and Cần Thơ International Airport. The city's bridge, which is now completed, is the longest cable-stayed bridge in Southeast Asia. The six-lane Saigon–Cần Thơ Expressway is being built in parts from Hồ Chí Minh City to Mỹ Tho. Hydrofoil express boats link this city with Hồ Chí Minh City. From Phú Quốc island, tourists can use the ferry, passenger bus or taxi to transfer to Cần Thơ. There are many vehicles such as taxis, Grab motorbikes, buses, vans and coaches.

Economy: Tourist Industry The Mekong Delta is considered to be the "rice basket of Vietnam", contributing more than half of the nation's rice production. People say of Cần Thơ: Cần Thơ gạo trắng nước trong,

Ai đi đến đó lòng không muốn về.

Cần thơ's rice is white, its water clear.

Everyone who visit there, does not want to leave.

Cần Thơ (shared with Hậu Giang) is famous for its floating markets, especially Cai Rang Floating Market, where people sell and buy things on the river, as well as the bird gardens and the port of Ninh Kiều. The city offers a wide range of tropical fruits such as pomelo, longan, jackfruit, mango, guava, banana, rambutan, mangosteen, dragon fruit and durian. The Cần Thơ City Museum has exhibits on the city's history.

Tourist attractions: • Cần Thơ Bridge • Thiền viện Trúc Lâm Phương Nam (Buddhist temple) • Nam Nhã Pagoda • Bình Thủy Temple • The historic Bình Thủy house (nhà cổ Bình Thủy, 1870): a mix of French and Asian architecture • Ninh Kiều Quay • Cần Thơ pedestrian bridge • Cái Răng Floating Market & Phong Điền Floating Market • Bằng Lăng Stork Sanctuary (Thốt Nốt district) • Canal tour • Cần Thơ Cathedral • Ông Chinese Pagoda • Pitu Khôsa Răngsây Khmer Pagoda • Quang Đức Pagoda • Long Quang Pagoda • Lưu Hữu Phước Park • Phật Học Pagoda • Mỹ Khánh tourist village • Cần Thơ seminary.

Education Academic institutions in the city are Cần Thơ University, Cần Thơ Department of Education and Training, Cần Thơ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tây Đô University, Nam Cần Thơ University, Cần Thơ College, College of Foreign Economic Relations – Cần Thơ Branch, Medical College, Singapore International School at Can Tho, Cần Thơ Technical Economic College and Vocational College, with its well-known College of Agriculture and Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, Cần Thơ University of Technology.

Economy After 120 years of development, the city now is the delta's most important centre of economics, culture, science, and technology. It has a large freshwater port and two industrial parks.