How do you get from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho in the Mekong Delta?

Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho at a glance

Last checked 27 October 2026. Fares are approximate; dollar figures convert at our committed exchange-rate snapshot.

Planning more legs? Use the route finder.

Why the road got faster: the My Thuan 2 bridge and expressway

For years the trip meant crawling along National Highway 1 through Tien Giang and Vinh Long. That changed on 24 December 2023, when the My Thuan 2 bridge and the My Thuan to Can Tho expressway opened on the same day, joining the existing Trung Luong to My Thuan expressway. Vietnam's Ministry of Transport described the drive falling from about three and a half hours to about two hours for a car with clear roads.

Buses do not hit that best case. They leave from western Saigon, stop for passengers and usually take one rest break, so real timetables still list about 3.5 to 4.5 hours, and longer on Friday evenings, Sunday afternoons and around Tet (see our Tet 2027 guide), when the whole delta goes home at once.

Option 1: FUTA (Phuong Trang) and other big bus companies

FUTA Bus Lines, still called Phuong Trang by most Vietnamese, is the default. Its own route listing gives 25 to 30 trips a day, running from very early morning into the night, and booking sites in 2026 show fares of roughly 165,000 to 240,000 VND (≈ $6.4–9.3) depending on seat or sleeper type. Most of the fleet on this route is sleeper-style coaches with reclining berths, which is more bus than a 4-hour trip needs but comfortable.

• Departure point: Mien Tay bus station (Ben xe Mien Tay) at 395 Kinh Duong Vuong in Binh Tan district, on the western edge of the city. From District 1 it is a long Grab ride across town, so allow 40 minutes or more at rush hour. FUTA also lists An Suong and other Saigon pickup points, so check which one your ticket uses.

• Arrival point: Can Tho central bus station on Highway 1 in Cai Rang district, south of the riverfront, not in Ninh Kieu where most visitors stay. Some listings show a drop-off in Ninh Kieu instead; check your ticket, and expect a 10 to 15 minute Grab ride into town from Cai Rang if not.

• How to book: the FUTA website or app, the counter at Mien Tay, or aggregators such as 12Go, Baolau or redBus, which add a fee but take foreign cards. A day ahead is enough outside weekends and holidays; book several days ahead for Tet.

Option 2: limousine vans

Several companies run 9-seat limousine vans (converted Ford Transits or similar with captain's chairs) between Saigon and Can Tho. The advantage is pickup and drop-off: many collect from central districts or a company office instead of Mien Tay, which can save more time than the drive itself. Fares on aggregators sit a little above the big buses, and timetables change often, so compare on 12Go or Baolau and confirm the exact pickup address before paying.

Vans are the better choice if you are carrying little luggage and staying in District 1 or 3. With large suitcases, the big buses have proper luggage holds.

Option 3: private car or driver

A private car with driver is the fastest door-to-door option, about 3 hours on the expressway with light traffic, and the only one that lets you stop on the way, for example in Ben Tre or Cai Be for coconut workshops and orchards. Prices vary widely by vehicle and agency, so get quotes from your hotel and from transfer sites and compare. Split between three or four people, a car can be competitive with four bus tickets plus two cross-town Grab rides.

Grab can also quote long-distance car rides on some days, but availability is unreliable for a 170 km trip; arrange it in advance rather than counting on it.

No train, no useful flight

There is no railway to Can Tho; Vietnam's north to south line ends in Saigon, as our Reunification Express guide explains.

River boats between Saigon and the delta are mostly packaged multi-day tours, not a scheduled public service, so the road is the realistic choice.

Day trip or overnight?

Can Tho's main reason to go is the Cai Rang floating market, which is busiest roughly from dawn to about 8 or 9am. A same-day trip from Saigon cannot reach it at that hour without leaving in the middle of the night, which is why one-day Mekong tours from the city usually go to closer places such as My Tho and Ben Tre instead. Our day trips from Ho Chi Minh City page covers those.

If Can Tho itself is the goal, stay at least one night, preferably two, in Ninh Kieu by the riverfront. Our Can Tho guide covers the market and the town, and our Ho Chi Minh City guide and how many days in Ho Chi Minh City help you fit the delta into a Saigon stay.

Practical tips

• Sit on the right side of the bus heading south for views when the coach crosses the Mekong on My Thuan 2; the river is wide and the bridge is high.

• Buses carry one large bag in the hold free; oversized luggage or bikes may be charged.

• At Mien Tay, ignore people approaching you to sell tickets outside the official counters; buy at the operator's own window.

• Cash in dong is easiest at counters; online bookings take cards. Check our Vietnam visa guide and the 2-week Vietnam itinerary when planning the wider route.

• The south is hot and wet from about May to November; afternoon storms can slow the road. See best time to visit Ho Chi Minh City.

Frequently asked questions