Can Tho Food Week 2026: Food, Events and Full Schedule
Can Tho Food Week 2026 will take place from August 28 to September 2, 2026, at Song Hau Park, Can Tho City, bringing together Mekong Delta food, local products, cultural activities and evening performances during Vietnam’s National Day holiday.
Under the theme “Tay Do Cuisine – The Essence of the River Region,” the six-day event is expected to feature more than 200 booths showcasing food from Can Tho, the Mekong Delta and other parts of Vietnam.
If you are visiting Can Tho around September 2, this is an easy event to add to your trip: explore the floating market and waterways in the morning, rest during the afternoon, then head to Song Hau Park for food and entertainment in the evening.
Can Tho Food Week 2026 at a Glance
| Information | Details |
| Event | Can Tho Food Week 2026 |
| Vietnamese name | Tuần lễ Ẩm thực Thành phố Cần Thơ 2026 |
| Theme | Tay Do Cuisine - The Essence of the River Region |
| Dates | August 28 - September 2, 2026 |
| Daily hours | 8:00 AM - 9:00 PM |
| Venue | Song Hau Park, Can Tho |
| Google Maps | https://maps.app.goo.gl/N2RUCNLN9NftQDwT9 |
| Main experiences | Food, rural market, tourism, OCOP products, street vendors, photo exhibition and performances |
More than 200 booths are expected to take part in the event, making it one of the city’s notable tourism activities during the 2026 National Day holiday.
Can Tho Food Week 2026 Schedule
The food, tourism, rural market, OCOP and exhibition areas are scheduled to operate from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM every day.
Special programs take place mainly in the evening.
| Date | Time | Program |
| August 28 | 6:00 PM | Opening Ceremony of Can Tho Food Week 2026 |
| August 29 | 7:00-8:30 PM | Street Music |
| August 30 | 7:00-8:00 PM | Vietnamese Lô Tô Night (Musical Bingo Show) |
| August 31 | 7:00-8:30 PM | Street Music |
| September 1 | 7:00-8:00 PM | Art Program & Fashion Show |
| September 2 | 7:00-9:00 PM | Art and Fashion Program “Mien Tay - Ngay Hoi Non Song” |
Note: Lô tô is a lively Vietnamese form of entertainment that combines bingo-style number calling with live singing, comedy and theatrical performances.
If you mainly want to explore the food stalls, visiting before the evening performances may give you more time to walk around. If you want both food and entertainment, arriving in the late afternoon and staying for the evening program is the more practical option.
What Can You Experience at Can Tho Food Week?
Food is the main reason to visit, but the event is designed as more than a collection of food stalls.
Tay Do and Mekong Delta Food
One of the main areas focuses on the food culture of Can Tho and the Mekong Delta.
Rather than visiting several restaurants around the city, the event gives travelers an opportunity to explore different local flavors in one place.
The wider event also introduces food and specialty products from other regions of Vietnam, expanding beyond Can Tho cuisine alone.
For international travelers unfamiliar with the term, Tay Do is a traditional name associated with Can Tho and literally refers to the “Western Capital.”
Rural Market Space
The rural market area recreates part of the atmosphere associated with markets and everyday food culture in Southern Vietnam.
It adds a cultural dimension to the event instead of presenting food only as finished dishes.
Street Food and Vendors
A dedicated street-vendor area offers another side of local eating culture.
For travelers, this is particularly useful because some Vietnamese street foods can otherwise be difficult to identify without knowing their names or where to look for them.
OCOP Products
The event also includes an area for introducing and selling OCOP products.
OCOP stands for One Commune One Product, a Vietnamese program supporting locally distinctive products linked to particular communities and regions.
Expect this section to be more focused on packaged specialties, agricultural products and local goods rather than dishes prepared for immediate dining.
Can Tho Tourism Space
A tourism area introduces destinations, experiences and services in Can Tho.
It can be useful if the Food Week is only one part of a longer Mekong Delta trip and you want ideas for what to do during the rest of your stay.
Can Tho Tourism Photo Exhibition
A photo exhibition runs throughout the event, presenting landscapes, culture, people and destinations around Can Tho.
This is one of the quieter parts of the program and can be a good break between exploring food stalls.
Visit Mekong Smile at Can Tho Food Week 2026
Mekong Smile will also have a booth at Can Tho Food Week 2026 at Song Hau Park.
If you are visiting the event from August 28 to September 2, stop by and meet the Mekong Smile team during your time in Can Tho.
Which Day Should You Visit?
There is no single day that suits everyone.
Choose August 28 if you want to see the opening of the event.
Choose August 29 or August 31 if you prefer a relaxed evening with street music.
Choose August 30 if you want to experience Vietnamese Lô tô, a lively form of entertainment combining bingo-style number calling with singing, comedy and stage performance. The show is scheduled from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM.
Choose September 1 for the art program and fashion show.
Choose September 2 if you are in Can Tho for Vietnam’s National Day and want to attend the longest evening program, running until 9:00 PM.
Because the event overlaps with the National Day holiday, accommodation and transportation may be busier than on a normal weekday. Travelers with fixed plans should avoid leaving hotels and transport arrangements until the last minute.
How to Combine Can Tho Food Week With a Day in Can Tho
One of the advantages of the event is its 8:00 AM-9:00 PM schedule.
You do not need to dedicate an entire day to it.
A practical Can Tho itinerary could look like this:
Early morning: Visit Cai Rang Floating Market.
Late morning: Explore a rice noodle workshop, fruit garden or small canal.
Afternoon: Return to your hotel and rest.
Late afternoon: Head to Song Hau Park.
Evening: Explore the food stalls and stay for the day’s scheduled performance.
This works particularly well in Can Tho because many river experiences begin early in the morning, while the main Food Week performances take place after 6:00 or 7:00 PM.
Can Tho Tours to Combine With the Food Week
If you want to experience river life before visiting the festival, these Mekong Smile tours fit more naturally into a morning itinerary.
Cai Rang Floating Market Tour
The Cai Rang Floating Market Tour starts at around 6:00 AM and lasts approximately 5-6 hours.
The route combines Cai Rang Floating Market with breakfast on the river, a traditional rice noodle workshop, Mr. Muoi’s cacao farm, a tropical fruit garden and a smaller canal.
It is a good choice if you have a full day in Can Tho and want to experience both river culture and the Food Week.
Can Tho River Tour
For a shorter morning, consider the Can Tho River Tour.
The approximately three-hour experience visits Cai Rang Floating Market, a traditional rice noodle workshop and smaller waterways around Can Tho.
Because it finishes earlier, you still have plenty of time to rest before heading to Song Hau Park later in the day.
Can Tho City Tour
Travelers who want a broader introduction can choose the Can Tho City Tour.
The approximately seven-hour itinerary combines Cai Rang Floating Market, a traditional noodle workshop and Son Islet, giving you both river and community experiences before the evening event.
For more planning information, see our Can Tho Travel Guide for transportation, attractions, food, accommodation and suggested itineraries.
Practical Tips Before You Go
Allow More Time During the National Day Holiday
Can Tho Food Week overlaps with Vietnam’s National Day holiday, so the city may be livelier than usual.
If there is a particular evening performance you want to see, arrive earlier rather than trying to reach Song Hau Park exactly at the starting time.
Bring Light Rain Protection
Late August and early September fall within Can Tho’s rainy season.
Rain often comes in bursts rather than lasting all day, but a compact umbrella or lightweight rain jacket is useful when attending an outdoor event.
Visit Hungry, but Do Not Try Everything at Once
With more than 200 booths expected across the event, trying to sample everything is unrealistic.
A better approach is to walk through the venue first, see what is available and then return to the stalls that interest you most.
Carry Some Vietnamese Dong
Having smaller-denomination Vietnamese banknotes can make purchases at food stalls and local-product booths more convenient.
Payment options can differ from stall to stall, so relying on only one payment method may be inconvenient.
Check for Program Updates
The schedule above follows the currently published event program. Outdoor performances and operational details can still be adjusted by organizers when necessary.
If you are visiting specifically for one performance, check the latest local announcement before heading out.
Is Can Tho Food Week 2026 Worth Visiting?
If you are already traveling through Can Tho between August 28 and September 2, the Food Week is an easy addition to your itinerary.
Its main advantage is variety: local food, Vietnamese regional specialties, rural-market culture, OCOP products, tourism information, photography and evening entertainment are brought together at one venue.
It should not replace experiences such as Cai Rang Floating Market or exploring Can Tho’s smaller waterways. Instead, the event works best as an evening complement to a daytime Mekong Delta itinerary.
Visit the river in the morning, take a break in the afternoon, then spend the evening discovering another side of Can Tho through food and local culture at Song Hau Park.
Frequently Asked Questions about Can Tho Food Week 2026 (FAQ)
When is Can Tho Food Week 2026?
Can Tho Food Week 2026 runs from August 28 to September 2, 2026.
Where is Can Tho Food Week 2026 held?
The event takes place at Song Hau Park in Can Tho.
What time does Can Tho Food Week open?
The main event spaces are scheduled to operate from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM each day. Special performances take place mainly in the evening.
What can visitors find at the event?
Visitors can explore food areas, tourism displays, a rural market, OCOP products, street-vendor spaces and a Can Tho tourism photo exhibition. Evening entertainment varies by date.
How many booths will Can Tho Food Week 2026 have?
Organizers expect more than 200 booths across the event.
Can I visit Cai Rang Floating Market and Can Tho Food Week on the same day?
Yes. Cai Rang Floating Market is best visited early in the morning, while most special Food Week performances take place in the evening, making the two experiences relatively easy to combine in one day.
