Can Tho: The Best Place I Almost Don’t Want to Recommend

A Chinese traveler’s experience of people, time, and staying longer than planned

Opening

I skipped Vung Tau and Mui Ne.

I had seen enough coastal cities.

I wanted something different.

So I came to Can Tho.

First Impression

I would call it the best place I’ve been to in Vietnam.

Not because of famous attractions.

But because of how it feels.

There are almost no dense tourist crowds.

Most of what you see are locals.

The weather is more comfortable than Ho Chi Minh City.

Except for frequent rain, it’s easy to stay.

Staying Longer

I didn’t plan to stay long.

But I ended up staying for seven days.

Everything is cheap.

A hostel bed costs about 22 RMB per night.

It even has a balcony and a kitchen.

Right outside, there’s a small street food stall.

About 6 RMB per meal.

Always full.

What I remember most is not the food.

It’s the smiles of the couple running it.

Warm, simple, genuine.

People

The place is full of people.

Not tourists.

But travelers.

Lewis

The front desk staff, fresh graduate.

He studied English, but his English wasn’t strong.

Later he admitted he didn’t study much in university.

But he was kind.

When he forgot to lock my bed, he bought me lunch to apologize.

I gave him a bookmark as a small gift.

Lucas

A Brazilian programmer.

A digital nomad with stable clients.

32 years old.

Quiet, but very kind.

He even asked me how to approach Chinese girls.

Bobber

An American who lived in Taiwan for 40 years.

Worked in jewelry.

Friendly, but sometimes carried a subtle sense of superiority.

A familiar kind of personality.

Others

• Vietnamese-American researchers
• A homestay owner who talked endlessly
• Travelers from different places

Chinese Travelers

A man from Yichun.

Tried business, failed, now traveling across Southeast Asia.

A man from Guangxi.

Started as an engineer, then opened a restaurant, then logistics.

Now lives through connections, with freedom of time.

We met by coincidence.

And then spent days together.

Local Connections

I met young people from a Pure Land Buddhist temple.

Around 18 years old.

Very friendly.

Some learning Chinese.

They shared food and travel tips.

Most of them had iPhones.

I also met:

Hnhu, small and kind Trân Thiên, sincere Lyly, lively and beautiful

Time with them was simple and joyful.

Floating Market

I visited the floating market.

It’s slowly disappearing due to modern transport.

The trip cost less than 40 RMB.

About three hours.

Includes multiple stops and local food experiences.

I also met Malin, a Swedish-Korean traveler.

Very frugal.

We talked about perspectives shaped by media.

Time

Some days, nothing happened.

I just sat on the balcony or in a café for hours.

Those moments felt important.

Closing

Can Tho is not impressive in the usual way.

But it gives something rare:

Time. Space. And people.

Part of me doesn’t want more tourists to come.

Some places are better left as they are.