Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho is about 170 km, and since the My Thuan to Can Tho expressway opened in December 2023 the whole journey runs on expressway. A private car takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. Buses, led by Futa from Mien Tay station, cost from about 7 US dollars on booking sites; operators quote around 3.5 hours, but with city traffic, pickups and a rest stop, allow 4 to 5. There is no train. Take the bus on a budget, a private car for speed or a group, and in either case plan to arrive the evening before you visit Cai Rang floating market.
Can Tho is often called the capital of the Mekong Delta, and it is the base for the delta's most famous floating market. Since the July 2025 provincial merger it also takes in the former provinces of Soc Trang and Hau Giang, so "Can Tho" now covers a much larger area than the city itself.
Comparison at a glance
| Mode | Time | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bus from Mien Tay (Futa and others) | ~3.5h quoted, 4-5h in practice | From ~$7 (180,000-200,000 VND) | Budget travellers |
| Limousine van | Similar to the bus | Toward the top of the ~$7-17 range | Comfort on a budget; hotel pickup where offered |
| Private car | ~2.5-3h | Quote on request | Families, groups, early starts, stops en route |
| Tour | A full day or overnight | Varies | Travellers who want everything arranged |
Car and bus times differ on the same road because buses make pickups, keep to lower speeds and stop to rest. Our travel time atlas matches times to modes across the country.
The expressway that changed the trip
The drive used to take four hours or more. It is now continuous expressway: Ho Chi Minh City to Trung Luong, Trung Luong to My Thuan, and the 23 km My Thuan to Can Tho section, which opened in December 2023, finishing with the crossing of the Can Tho Bridge over the Hau River. That is what puts a private car at about 2.5 to 3 hours door to door, traffic leaving the city permitting.
The network has kept growing beyond Can Tho: the Can Tho to Ca Mau expressway was completed between December 2025 and January 2026, which makes the delta's far south much easier to reach if you are continuing on.
By bus: cheap and frequent
Buses to Can Tho leave from Mien Tay, the Western bus station, which serves the whole delta. Futa, also known as Phuong Trang, is the largest operator on the route, with frequent departures through the day. Fares on booking sites such as redBus start around 7 US dollars and reach about 17 at the top end, as of 2026, with Sundays the dearest day.
Operators quote around 3.5 hours with a rest stop. In practice, the run out of the city through traffic, pickups and the stop usually push it to 4 or 5 hours, so do not plan a tight connection at the other end. Mien Tay is some way from District 1; allow for traffic getting there, or choose a service that collects from central hotels or a city office.
By private car
A car with a driver is the fastest option, at about 2.5 to 3 hours, and the most flexible: hotel pickup, a stop in the delta on the way, and a schedule that suits you. It makes most sense for families and groups splitting the cost, and for anyone who wants to leave very early. Our car and driver hire guide explains how to book and what to confirm; quotes vary with the vehicle and whether tolls are included.
Day trip or overnight?
Technically a day trip works, but Can Tho's main sight argues against it. Cai Rang floating market is at its liveliest around dawn, so a day trip from Saigon either means leaving in the middle of the night or arriving after the market has thinned. Spending the night in Can Tho and taking a boat to Cai Rang at sunrise is far better, and a second night lets you add the orchards, the canals, or a longer trip to Chau Doc or Soc Trang's Khmer pagodas. Our day trips from Can Tho and Mekong floating markets guides cover what to do once you are there.
If you would rather see the delta without committing to Can Tho, our two-day Saigon and Mekong itinerary covers the closer towns of My Tho and Ben Tre, and the Mekong without a tour explains how to travel independently.
Which should you pick?
- Budget traveller: a Futa bus from Mien Tay, arriving the evening before Cai Rang.
- Comfort on a budget: a limousine van with hotel pickup, where offered.
- Family, group or tight schedule: a private car, about 2.5 to 3 hours.
- Short on planning time: an overnight tour that includes Cai Rang at dawn.
Gotchas
- Leaving the city. The slowest part of the trip is often the first hour, getting out of Ho Chi Minh City. Leave early, or outside the morning and evening rush.
- Holidays. Buses and roads fill around Tet (6 February in 2027) and other long weekends; book ahead and expect longer journeys. Our Tet effect guide explains why.
- The wet season. From May to mid-November, heavy downpours can slow traffic, and in autumn the Mekong runs high; see our Ho Chi Minh City weather guide. Build in a buffer.
- Cai Rang timing. Whatever you take, plan to be in Can Tho the night before a sunrise market visit.
If you are starting in Saigon, our 3 days in Ho Chi Minh City itinerary shows where a Mekong trip fits.
Limitations
Bus fares are 2026 listings from booking platforms and vary by operator, vehicle and day. Journey times are estimates: the car figure assumes normal traffic on the expressway, and the bus figure allows for pickups and stops that vary by service. Operators, departure points and pickup offers change, so confirm the boarding point when you book.
Workaround: book a named operator with a clear boarding point, leave Saigon early to avoid the worst of the traffic, and plan to stay the night in Can Tho if Cai Rang at dawn is the goal.