Self-Guided Walking Tour of Can Tho, Vietnam | Vietnam Purple Travel Guide

After getting up early this morning to explore the floating markets, and before leaving Can Tho and returning to Ho Chi Minh City, we will have a little time to enjoy lunch and explore Can Tho.

Here is a short self-guided walking tour of Can Tho:

Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we promote self-guided walking tours.
But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the Viator tours below.

Can Tho Love Bridge / Ninh Kieu Pedestrian Bridge

(map, reviews)

Last night, you visited Can Tho Love Bridge and marveled at it beautiful illumination. Today, we will start our tour on the bridge and learn that it is worth a visit during daylight hours, too.
Cần Thơ Love Bridge, is officially called Ninh Kiều Pedestrian Bridge. Located at the edge of the famous Ninh Kiều Wharf, this elegantly lit footbridge has quickly become a popular photo spot, walking destination, and nighttime attraction for locals and tourists alike.

This architecturally striking, S-shaped span across the Hau River is famous for its romantic evening atmosphere. At sunset, its sophisticated LED lighting system—including two magnificent, towering lotus light sculptures—transforms the entire waterfront into a vibrant, ethereal spectacle. It offers the best panoramic photo opportunity of Can Tho's nightlife, but it is a wonderful relaxing sight during daytime, too, making it the perfect start for self-guided discovery of Can Tho. For tips on the best time to visit, its unique history, and how to capture that iconic shot of the dazzling lotus lights, turn to our dedicated Can Tho Love Bridge page.

Restaurant at Nam Bo Boutique Hotel

(map)

We discovered the restaurant by accident and went inside, because we liked the hotel’s charming colonial style building. The restaurant belongs to the hotel, but you do not need to be a hotel guest to eat here. The restaurant takes credit cards.

Located at the edge of the Ninh Kiều Wharf, the restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The menu at Nam Bo Restaurant reflects the culinary richness of the Mekong Delta and incorporates international dishes.
We really liked the diversity of the dishes, and the found the food to be tasty.

The hotel also has a rooftop lounge, which opens for dinner.

Co.opmart Can Tho

(map, reviews)

This is a well-stocked supermarket. If you want to stock up on snacks or drinks for your trip back to Ho Chi Minh City, this is probably the best place to do so.

Chùa Tịnh Độ Cư Sĩ Phật Hội Hưng Định Tự

(map, reviews)

Chùa Tịnh Độ Cư Sĩ Phật Hội Hưng Định Tự is both a prayer sanctuary and a community health center in central Cần Thơ. This temple of the Pure Land Buddhist Lay Association (Tịnh Độ Cư Sĩ Phật Hội Việt Nam) reflects a unique combination of Vietnamese Buddhist devotion and philanthropic action.

When you come here, look through the open gate, where you will likely see various colored herbs being dried in the courtyard.

Buddhist Philosophy & Community Mission

• The temple follows Tịnh Độ Cư Sĩ, a Pure Land lay Buddhist movement founded in South Vietnam in the 1930s by Tông sư Minh Trí

• It emphasizes daily chanting of Amitābha Buddha’s name, ethical living, and volunteer practice.

• Core activities include free herbal medicine clinics and acupuncture for those in need, aligning with the sect’s principle of ‘Phước Huệ Song Tu’ (practicing both merit and wisdom)

Healing Services & Social Impact

• The temple operates free traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture clinics, staffed by Buddhist lay practitioners.

• In one recent period, it treated more than 7,500 patients, providing over 67,000 herbal prescriptions and 6,600 acupuncture sessions — amounting to over 1 billion VND in charitable services

• Patients include both the poor and the medically underserved; many report improved conditions through these treatments.

Architectural & Spiritual Features

• The temple features spacious courtyard gardens, and ornate statues of Amitābha Buddha and bodhisattvas.

• It incorporates bright mosaics, dragon-carved roofs, and a serene atmosphere.

• Visitors often join chanting sessions and observe rituals on the spacious temple grounds.

Here are some photos that we took:

Visiting Information

• Hours: Open daily from 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM (especially Monday–Saturday when clinics operate)

• Admission: Free

• Etiquette: Wear modest clothing, remove shoes, and observe silence during prayer or treatment

Munirensay Khmer Buddhist Temple

(map, reviews)

Take a peaceful detour from the bustle of the main streets to discover the stunning Munirensay Khmer Buddhist Temple (also known as Munirangsyaram Pagoda). Instantly recognizable, this is the most prominent Khmer Theravada temple in Can Tho, featuring an architecture that feels dramatically distinct from the surrounding Vietnamese and Chinese pagodas. Be prepared for a vision of brilliant, traditional gold and vibrant colors, topped with a magnificent gate modeled after the iconic three-tower design found at Angkor Wat. Inside, you will discover a serene space to observe the unique cultural and spiritual life of the Khmer community in the Mekong Delta. For a deep dive into the temple's mythical carvings, its rich history, and the best times to visit for a truly tranquil experience, see our Munirensay Khmer Buddhist Temple guide.

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Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel

Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.

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