Bang Lang Stork Garden

Bang Lang Stork Garden lies within the area of Binh Thoi hamlet, Thoi Thuan commune, Thot Not district, Can Tho city. Upon passing the north of Vam Cong, from Lo Te intersection, visitors go along the No. 80 Highway for about 80km before reaching a small canal named Bang Lang. Then you will continue to go through a bridge which is also named Bang Lang. There is around 1 km away from the main road to Bang Lang Stork Garden. On the way to the garden, visitors will pass green rice paddies and interlacing canals.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thuyen, who is often referred to as Mr. Bay Co, is the owner of Bang Lang Stork Garden. As he said, the garden was spontaneously established since 1983. It is strange that a large number of storks choose to make their home at the garden of Mr. Bay Co. At first, there were very few of them stay there. Then Mr. Bay has created good conditions so as the storks can live at his garden. Since then, Bang Lang garden has gradually been expanded with the current area of 12.500 m2 and the number of storks ranges from 100.000 – 150.000 of more than 20 species of stork.

Through many years living and watching the storks, Mr. Bay now has practical knowledge about the storks. Bang Lang Stork garden is regarded as the most special type of bird garden of the country. Visitors will be able to observe the whole stork garden at the height of 8 meters after passing through the two rainbow-shaped gates made from bamboos.

There are various species of storks living at Bang Lang stork garden including Cattle Egret, ibis, striated heron, painted stork, etc. Besides, there are other species which are not belong to species of storks making their home at Bang Lang Garden such as black-crowned night heron, little cormorant, greater coucal, heron, etc.

The most crowded type of storks is the white cattle egret which takes up 80% the total storks in the garden. This specie of storks often builds their nests at the garden from March to August of lunar year.

The main foods of them are fishes, shellfishes, tiny shrimps, locusts, insects, etc. They often fly away to find food in the early morning and come back in the late afternoon. Storks often go in couples to find foods; sometimes, they go in flock. They have to find foods all year round; however, in dry season, Mr. Bay has to offer extra food for them.

Presently, along with the development of Can Tho City, Bang Lang stork garden has more conditions to become an attractive ecological tourist attraction by the side of Hau River.

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Binh Thuy ancient house

Binh Thuy ancient house is situated on Bui Huu Nghia Street, Binh Thuy District, Can Tho city. The house features the French architectural style with five compartments and two roofs. Binh Thuy ancient house was constructed in 1870 by the Duong family. With its French architecture pattern, the house’s floor is one meters higher than the yard ground. The house is characterized with four bow-shaped stairways, which connect the house with its spacious yard. The high ceiling is decorated with different patterns; there are doors and windows of different size to make the house more spacious and comfortable. All the black-white marbles for floor coverage and the iron fence surround the house are imported from France.

In the 8.000 square meters of its total area, the garden takes up an area of 6.000 square meters, making the site fresher and greener. Visitors can enjoy the fresh atmosphere around the house campus.

Especially, the house contains a large number of valuable “antiques” which have been preserved until now. They include two set of furniture (tables and chairs) originated from Van Nam, China, a set of salon table originated from the era off Louis 15th, etc.

Binh Thuy ancient house has been in use for more than a century; despite harsh natural conditions as well as the 30-year Vietnam War, its presence is still a proud of local people. Visiting Binh Thuy ancient house, tourists will be impressed not only by its antique beauty, but also by the valuable historical as well as cultural features.

The owner of Binh Thuy ancient house today is Mr. Duong Minh Hien, a Vietnamese veteran.

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Floating Markets

Cai Rang Floating Market

Cai Rang Floating Market is the cities main wholesale market and some say the most well-known floating market in the Mekong (However others say Phong Đien  is more popular) being the main floating wholesale market there are a lot of medium and larger size boats compared to other floating markets which you may have already seen on your Mekong trip. Getting to Cai Rang Floating Market is a litter tricky as it is close to an hour by boat from the Ninh Kieu (Can Tho) wharf, if you are pressed for time the other option is driving to the Cau Dau Sau boat landing and then taking a close to 10 minute boat ride to the market. As with most markets in Vietnam all the action happens early in the morning (the earlier the better) with an optimal time between 6am and 8am to beat the heat and humidity.

Phong Đien Floating Market

Phong Đien Floating Market is Can Tho’s retail floating market and as such is very different from Cai Rang, here you will see many more small and non-motorized boats selling everything from fruit, vegetables, seafood and meat through to Cafe (Cafe Da, Cafe Sua Da) and breakfast. As with Cai Rang above aim to get here as early as possible in the morning, it should be noted that it is possible to do both markets in the same morning if you set out early enough. However if you have a more than a day or two in the city and want to visit both you might want to do them on different mornings.

Phung Hiep floating market

Phung Hiep floating market located about 30km south of Can Tho in the Hau Giang province and is much further away than Cái Răng and Phong Điền Floating Markets however if you have time to spare it is well worth a visit. This market is the largest floating market in the Mekong and is open from as early as 4 am until about 11 am.

Again aim to leave for Phung Hiep early in the morning and you can either book a tour at your hotel or Can Tho tourist or go to Ninh Kieu (Can Tho) wharf to book directly with a boat operator.

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Can Tho overview

This is one among Vietnam’s biggest cities, which is situated in the heart of the Mekong Delta region, within a network of rivers and canals. The province shares the common borders with five other provinces: An Giang in the north, Dong Thap in the north-east, Hau Giang in the south, Kien Giang in the west, and Vinh Long in the east.

Can Tho has a split personality: One takes the form of a miniture-sized Ho Chi Minh City — blessed by the Mighty Mekong with all the needed resource to establish an international airport town as the flights to neighboring Cambodia are under municipal programs. The other one is a traditional riverside town, where boats are still widely used both as transportation and household. As the unofficial capital of the delta region, Can Tho features with wide boulevards and spacious waterfront perfect for strolling, as well as interesting boat tours of the surrounding canals bringing Vietnam tour makers pass floating markets, fruit orchards and peaceful villages.

Floating markets of Cai Rang and Phong Dien might be the most written Vietnam tour destinations in guidebooks, which earn their popularity in the 6-8am market buslte. Snake and snake products have made Phung Hiep Floating Market quite a kick for those Vietnam holiday makers looking for something quirky.

Get out of the myriad canals, Can Tho itself offers some rewarding exploration on foot. Muniransyarama Pagoda, the Khmer Hinayana Buddhist, is the major mecca for the Khmer community in Can Tho. The idea location facing Can Tho River has made the Chinese temple Quan Cong Pagoda a nice place to sit and chat with the Cantonese Congregation, whose population has dropped down greatly after the anti-Chinese persections during 1978-1979. Ong Pagoda is also worth a peek. Central Market is your choice if not so much into pagodas. Wherever you go, Can Tho brings its beauty for your Vietnam holiday.

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