Cần Thơ

Can Tho Thành phố Cần Thơ
—  Centrally-governed city  —
Nickname(s): The capital of the West (Vietnamese: Tây Đô)
Provincial map
Coordinates: 10°2′N 105°47′E / 10.033°N 105.783°E / 10.033; 105.783
Country	Vietnam
Area
– Total	1,389.6 km2 (536.5 sq mi)
Population (2004)
– Total	1,121,000
– Density	807/km2 (2,090.1/sq mi)
Website	www.cantho.gov.vn/wps/portal/en/

Cần Thơ ( listen), the name comes from "cầm thi giang" - river of poems, is a city in Vietnam. The city, regarded as "Western capital", with an estimated population of 1,121,000 as of 2004, is the biggest city in the Mekong Delta. The city is located on the south bank of the Hậu River, the bigger branch of the Mekong River. It is 169 km from Hồ Chí Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city. Cần Thơ’s climate is tropical and monsoonal with two seasons: rainy, from May to November; and dry, from December to April. Average annual humidity is 83%, rainfall 1,635 mm and temperature 27 °C.

Administrative system

Cần Thơ City constitutes an independent municipality at the same level as provinces of Vietnam. It was created in the beginning of 2004 by a split of the former Cần Thơ Province into two new administrative units: Cần Thơ City and Hậu Giang Province.

Cần Thơ City is divided into nine districts:

• Ninh Kiều
• Bình Thủy
• Cái Răng
• Ô Môn
• Thốt Nốt
• Phong Điền
• Cờ Đỏ
• Vĩnh Thạnh
• Thoi Lai

It borders the provinces of An Giang, Hậu Giang, Kiên Giang, Vĩnh Long and Đồng Tháp.

Transportation

Can Tho Bridge

Can Tho International Airport

Can Tho is connected to the rest of the country by National Road 1A and Can Tho Airport. The Can Tho Bridge which is now completed, is the longest cable-stayed bridge in South East Asia . The 6-lane Saigon-Can Tho Exressway is being built in parts from Ho Chi Minh City to Trung Luong of My Tho. The hydrofoil express boat links this city with Saigon.

Tourism

Nam Nhã pagoda

Bình Thủy temple

The Mekong Delta is considered to be the “rice basket of Vietnam,” contributing more than 50% of the nation’s rice production. People say of Cần Thơ:

“

Cần Thơ gạo trắng nước trong, Ai đi đến đó lòng không muốn về.

”

“

Cần Thơ, white rice, pure water, All who come wish never to leave.

”

Cần Thơ is famous for its floating markets, Cai Rang and Phung Hiep, where people sell and buy things on the river, its bird gardens (Bằng Lăng), and Ninh Kieu port. The city offers a wide range of tropical fruits such as pomelo, longan, jackfruit, mango and durian.

Education

Academic institutions in the city are Cần Thơ University, Cần Thơ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tây Đô University, Cần Thơ College, Cần Thơ College of Foreign Relations and Economics, Medical College, The Economic and Technical College and Vocational College, with its well-known College of Agriculture and Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute.

Economy

Can Tho market

Floating market

After 120 years of development, the city now is the delta's most important centre of economics, culture, science and technology. It has a large freshwater port and two industrial parks. With its stable infrastructure, the city is calling for and expecting larger foreign investment.

Landmarks

Museum of People's Armed Forces

Can Tho Museum

External links

• Cần Thơ City government portal (Vietnamese)
• Cần Thơ on Wikitravel

Coordinates: 10°02′N 105°47′E / 10.033°N 105.783°E / 10.033; 105.783