Can Tho
Last reviewed: September 2026
My Tho is one of the easiest places to reach in the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City.
That makes it a popular choice for a one-day trip, but it can also be confusing for first-time visitors. A typical itinerary may move between My Tho, Thoi Son Island and the Ben Tre area within the same day, so it is not always obvious which experience belongs where.
There is another reason older guides can be confusing. You may still see My Tho described as a city in Tien Giang Province, while newer maps use Dong Thap Province.
This guide explains My Tho as it is useful to travelers today: what is worth seeing, what lies outside the standard river circuit, how long to stay and when My Tho makes more sense than travelling farther into the Delta.
If you are still comparing destinations, start by seeing where My Tho fits into the wider Mekong Delta.
My Tho at a Glance
| Detail | What to know |
| Current province | Dong Thap |
| Main river | Tien River |
| From Ho Chi Minh City | Commonly around 1.5-2 hours by road, depending on traffic |
| Good for | Short Mekong trips, river experiences, temples and local history |
| Typical visit | One full day from Ho Chi Minh City |
| Main river experience | Tien River and Thoi Son Island |
| Cultural landmark | Vinh Trang Pagoda |
| Local dish to try | Hu Tieu My Tho |
| Floating market? | Go farther to Can Tho if this is your priority |
| Overnight needed? | Usually optional |
Where Is My Tho? Understanding the Current Map
If you compare a recent map with an older guidebook, you may find two different addresses for the same place.
Before Vietnam’s 2025 administrative reorganization, My Tho was commonly written as My Tho City, Tien Giang Province.
The former Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces were then merged into the new Dong Thap Province. The former My Tho City area was also reorganized into five wards: My Tho, Dao Thanh, My Phong, Thoi Son and Trung An.
For travelers, however, My Tho remains the useful destination name. Hotels, boat operators and travel itineraries still use it for the wider riverside urban area and nearby experiences.
That is why Vinh Trang Pagoda is now officially in My Phong Ward, Thoi Son is in Thoi Son Ward, while several central heritage sites are in My Tho Ward.
If an older page still says “Tien Giang,” the attraction has not necessarily moved. In many cases, the administrative address has simply changed.
Is My Tho Worth Visiting?
My Tho works particularly well if you have one day from Ho Chi Minh City and want a first introduction to the Mekong Delta without changing hotels.
A day here can combine the Tien River, smaller waterways, an island environment, orchards and an important cultural landmark.
Its limitations are equally useful to understand.
My Tho does not represent every type of Mekong Delta experience.
If your main goal is Cai Rang Floating Market, continue to Can Tho. If wetlands and seasonal high-water landscapes are a priority, other parts of Dong Thap and An Giang are more relevant. If you have three or four days, My Tho can become one stop in a longer route rather than the whole trip.
For a short first visit, however, the My Tho-Ben Tre area remains a practical way to experience both the larger river and smaller countryside waterways.
Things to Do in My Tho
Visit Vinh Trang Pagoda
Vinh Trang Pagoda is the cultural stop I would prioritize on a first visit to My Tho.
Dating to the 19th century, the pagoda is known for a mixture of Vietnamese and other Asian and European architectural influences. Its mosaic-covered gates, older temple structures, woodwork and large Buddha statues make the visit more interesting than simply stopping for a photograph outside.
The pagoda is now officially located in My Phong Ward, Dong Thap Province.
Allow enough time to walk through the older structures as well as the open grounds. It remains an active Buddhist site, so modest clothing and respectful behavior are appropriate.
Mekong Smile already has a dedicated guide if you want to learn more about Vinh Trang Pagoda before visiting.
Take a Boat Trip on the Tien River
The Tien River is central to understanding My Tho.
Many visitors arrive expecting only the narrow canal scenes commonly used in Mekong Delta travel photos, but a My Tho boat trip usually begins on a much broader river.
Routes may pass the four traditionally named islets known as Long, Lan, Quy and Phung, often translated as Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise and Phoenix.
The experience therefore changes scale during the trip:
larger motorboat on the Tien River → island stops → smaller waterways or hand-rowed sampan.
The wide river helps you understand how important waterways are to the geography of the Delta. The smaller canals provide the quieter, more enclosed scenery associated with orchards and water-coconut vegetation.
Explore Thoi Son Island
Thoi Son is one of the established island tourism areas near My Tho.
The island covers roughly 1,200 hectares, and the crossing from My Tho generally takes around 15-20 minutes depending on the pier and route.
A visit may include orchard paths, seasonal fruit, honey tea, traditional Southern Vietnamese music and a short sampan ride through smaller waterways.
It is useful to arrive with realistic expectations.
Thoi Son has received visitors for many years. Some experiences follow an established tourism circuit and are designed to host groups. It should not be presented as an isolated village untouched by tourism.
That does not mean the experience has no value. The important part is understanding the relationship between the island, agriculture, waterways and the families involved in local tourism.
For more practical details, see the Thoi Son Island guide.
Explore Central My Tho Beyond the River Tour
Many day trips spend more time on the river than in My Tho itself.
If you are travelling independently or staying longer, the central area has enough history to justify a few additional stops.
Tien Giang Museum is particularly useful if you want context before or after visiting the surrounding heritage sites. Despite retaining its established name, it is now officially located at 2A Truong Vinh Ky Street, My Tho Ward, Dong Thap Province. Its collection includes more than 50,000 objects, photographs and documents related to local history, archaeology and everyday life.
Bach Cong Tu House, on Dinh Bo Linh Street, offers a different perspective. Built around 1925-1926, it is associated with Le Cong Phuoc, remembered locally as the “White Prince,” and reflects the lifestyle of a wealthy southern household in the early 20th century.
For religious heritage, Buu Lam Pagoda dates much further back and preserves elements of older Buddhist architecture. Mekong Smile has a separate Buu Lam Pagoda guide.
You can also visit Dieu Hoa Temple, a communal house built in the early 20th century with carved woodwork and local religious traditions. See the Dieu Hoa Temple guide if you want more historical context.
There is no need to visit every site. Choose one or two according to your interests rather than turning the day into a checklist.
More Places Near My Tho If You Have Extra Time
The best-known My Tho itinerary focuses on the river, but several places nearby offer a very different experience.
Rach Gam-Xoai Mut Historical Site
Around 12 km from My Tho, the Rach Gam-Xoai Mut site commemorates the 1785 battle on the Tien River led by Nguyen Hue against Siamese forces.
The complex includes exhibition areas connected with the battle and a reconstructed view of traditional southern life.
For travelers interested in Vietnamese history, it adds much more context than another short shopping or workshop stop.
Go Thanh Archaeological Site
Around 14 km east of central My Tho, Go Thanh belongs to the Oc Eo archaeological tradition.
Excavations have revealed architectural, residential and burial remains dating roughly from the 4th to the 8th centuries.
It is a more specialized destination than Vinh Trang or Thoi Son, but that is also what makes it interesting. It shows that the area’s history extends far beyond the modern river-tourism story.
Dong Tam Snake Farm
Dong Tam Snake Farm lies roughly 9 km west of the My Tho area.
Despite the name, it is more than a visitor attraction displaying snakes. The facility is connected with snake breeding, research, medicinal resources and treatment related to venomous snakebites.
It makes most sense for travelers with a specific interest in reptiles, medicine or wildlife facilities.
Mekong Smile also has a detailed Dong Tam Snake Farm guide if you are considering adding it to your route.
With only one day, however, I would still prioritize Vinh Trang, the Tien River and Thoi Son first.
My Tho, Thoi Son and Ben Tre: What Is Actually Where?
This is one of the easiest parts of a My Tho trip to misunderstand.
| Area | What travelers usually encounter |
| My Tho | Riverside urban area, Vinh Trang, heritage sites and boat departure |
| Thoi Son | Island environment, orchards, visitor gardens and sampans |
| Ben Tre area | Coconut countryside, workshops, village roads and smaller canals |
| Combined day trip | Often blends all three into one itinerary |
Ben Tre remains the familiar destination name, although the former Ben Tre Province is now part of the new Vinh Long Province following the 2025 administrative changes.
For travelers, the practical point is simpler: a tour sold as a My Tho or Mekong Delta day trip may cross between several areas without the day feeling like separate journeys.
If you want to experience both sides without arranging the transfers and boats separately, Mekong Smile’s Mekong Delta 1 Day Tour currently combines My Tho and Ben Tre from Ho Chi Minh City.
Looking for a Floating Market?
If seeing a working floating market is one of your main reasons for visiting the Mekong Delta, My Tho is not the practical destination to choose for that experience.
The river experiences here focus on the Tien River, islands and smaller canals.
For Cai Rang Floating Market, continue to Can Tho. Because Cai Rang is an early-morning market, an overnight stay there usually makes more sense than trying to add it to a My Tho day trip.
Before planning around it, read what to expect at Cai Rang Floating Market.
How to Get to My Tho from Ho Chi Minh City
My Tho is close enough to Ho Chi Minh City to work comfortably as a full-day excursion.
Road travel commonly takes around 1.5-2 hours, although traffic and your departure point can change the journey time.
An organized day tour is convenient when the river experience is the priority because road transport, boats and island stops are arranged together.
A private transfer gives you more flexibility and works well for families, small groups or travelers continuing deeper into the Delta.
An intercity bus is usually cheaper, but confirm the exact drop-off point before travelling. A ticket labelled “My Tho” does not necessarily mean the bus will leave you close to your hotel or river pier.
If you are arranging a boat independently, also confirm the correct departure point. The provincial tourism system currently lists My Tho Tourist Pier at 8, 30/4 Street, My Tho Ward, but individual operators may use different meeting points.
When to Visit My Tho
My Tho can be visited throughout much of the year.
For travelers with only one tightly scheduled day, broadly drier conditions are easier because there is less weather disruption when combining boats, temples and outdoor stops.
The wetter months do not mean travel stops. They simply require more flexibility.
Fruit availability also changes by crop and orchard rather than following one fixed “My Tho fruit season.”
For a more useful regional breakdown of weather, water levels and seasonal experiences, see when to visit the Mekong Delta.
What to Eat in My Tho
If you try one dish closely associated with the destination, start with Hu Tieu My Tho.
Its connection to My Tho goes beyond restaurant menus. The My Phong area has a long-established tradition of producing rice-based noodles, including hu tieu, with the craft having been practiced locally for generations.
The finished dish varies from shop to shop.
You may find pork, shrimp, offal or other toppings, and hu tieu can be served with broth or as a dry noodle dish with broth on the side.
There is no need to chase one supposedly definitive bowl. A busy local noodle shop can tell you more about the dish than a restaurant chosen only because it appears on a tourist checklist.
On river excursions you may also encounter seasonal fruit, fish dishes, honey tea and coconut products. These belong to the broader food culture of the Delta rather than being foods unique to My Tho.
How Long Should You Spend in My Tho?
For most travelers, half a day to one full day is enough for the main My Tho experience.
If you are already staying in My Tho, a focused half-day river trip can cover the Tien River, island stops and smaller waterways.
Mekong Smile’s My Tho Mekong Delta Tour currently runs for around 4-5 hours and is designed for travelers starting locally.
If you are coming from Ho Chi Minh City, allow a full day. Once the road journey is included, trying to return within half a day becomes unnecessarily rushed.
If you have two or more days, consider continuing farther into the Delta rather than simply adding more My Tho attractions to fill time.
Can Tho makes sense if Cai Rang is a priority, while other routes can continue toward Vinh Long, Dong Thap or Chau Doc depending on what you want to experience.
Use the Mekong Delta itinerary guide to compare routes by trip length.
Practical Tips Before You Go
Check whether your itinerary covers My Tho only or My Tho plus Ben Tre. The names are sometimes used loosely in tour descriptions.
Confirm the meeting point if you are travelling independently, especially when connecting an intercity bus with a river departure.
Wear footwear that is easy to use on small jetties and boats. Paths can become slippery after rain.
Bring sun protection even when travelling on the river.
Carry some cash for small local purchases.
At pagodas and temples, dress respectfully and remember that they remain active religious sites.
Most importantly, arrive with realistic expectations. The My Tho-Thoi Son route has been part of organized tourism for years. You do not need to imagine it as untouched countryside to appreciate the waterways, orchards, local livelihoods and cultural sites around it.
Planning a My Tho River Trip
There are two straightforward ways to fit My Tho into an itinerary.
If you are already in My Tho, a local half-day river experience can be enough.
Mekong Smile’s My Tho Mekong Delta Tour currently takes around 4-5 hours and combines the Tien River, island stops, sampan travel and local activities.
If you are starting in Ho Chi Minh City, a full-day route makes more sense because the road journey is already a significant part of the day.
The Mekong Delta 1 Day Tour combines My Tho and Ben Tre with transport from Ho Chi Minh City.
You do not need to book a tour to visit My Tho. The more useful decision is to work out what you actually want from the day: the river circuit, cultural sites, nearby history or a route continuing farther into the Delta.
Questions Travelers Often Ask Before Visiting My Tho
Is My Tho worth visiting from Ho Chi Minh City?
It can be a practical choice if you have one day and want a river-based introduction to the Mekong Delta without staying overnight. If you have several days, consider combining My Tho with destinations farther west.
How long does it take to travel from Ho Chi Minh City to My Tho?
Road travel commonly takes around 1.5-2 hours, although traffic and your departure location can change the journey time.
Is My Tho still in Tien Giang Province?
Not under the current administrative system. The former Tien Giang and Dong Thap provinces were merged into the new Dong Thap Province in 2025. Older travel guides and addresses may still use Tien Giang.
What is My Tho known for?
For travelers, My Tho is mainly associated with the Tien River, Thoi Son Island, Vinh Trang Pagoda, Hu Tieu My Tho and its convenient location for short Mekong Delta trips from Ho Chi Minh City.
Is My Tho the same as Ben Tre?
No. They are separate areas, although many day trips combine them. My Tho commonly provides the river gateway and cultural sites, while the Ben Tre side is more closely associated with coconut countryside, workshops and smaller rural waterways.
Does My Tho have a floating market?
A working floating market is not the main travel experience associated with My Tho. If that is a priority, plan for Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho.
What can I visit near My Tho beyond the standard river tour?
Rach Gam-Xoai Mut Historical Site, Go Thanh Archaeological Site and Dong Tam Snake Farm are three useful options for travelers with extra time and specific interests.
How much time do I need in My Tho?
Half a day can work if you are already in My Tho and only want a river experience. A full day is more practical when travelling from Ho Chi Minh City.
Can I visit My Tho without a tour?
Yes. Central cultural and historical sites are straightforward to visit independently. The river section requires more planning because you need to arrange the correct pier, boat and local transfers.
