10 Best Restaurants in Can Tho, Mekong Delta

Even if you're not staying at Azerai Can Tho, a boutique resort on a lush islet in the middle of the river, it's worth making a reservation and taking their boat over for an elegant lunch or dinner. The casual lunch menu and more extensive dinner menu both feature delicious Vietnamese specialties and fine international dishes, paired with a comprehensive wine list and a slew of creative cocktails. The menu changes weekly at The Grill, their other restaurant, opened on weekends.

A devilishly themed cocktail bar hidden deep down a local alley, The Heo Bistro not only expertly crafts classic and signature cocktails, but their kitchen also serves delicious bistro snacks, salads, and pastas.

For years this French restaurant was the finest dining in Can Tho. While the city has grown-up considerably, L'Escale still boasts the best rooftop terrace; try to snag a table at the front overlooking the riverfront promenade. The specialty is steak, but the menu has chicken, duck, pork, or fish dishes as well, accompanied by a decent size list of wines by the bottle and jazzy tunes.

The newest restaurant on Can Tho's tourist strip has an intimate set up, comfortable furniture, and a coveted terrace on the ground and upper floor with views of bustling Ninh Kieu Pier. The menu is divided between European and Asian and both sections offer plenty of variety (try the chicken braised in coconut). There's also La Baguette, their grab-and-go on the side for quick sandwiches, drinks, coffee, or cake, which are baked on-site.

In contrast to the same-owned L'Escale French restaurant on the rooftop, this all-day café-restaurant serves a variety of traditional Mekong specialties in a casual bistro setting. The dishes highlight typical Mekong Delta flavors, ingredients, and preparations, including sweet-and-sour soups and braised-in-claypot dishes; the adventurous can try the snake set, while the less adventurous still have a Western menu available. Part of the tourist-targeted empire that also owns Sao Hom and The Lighthouse Restaurants, this one offers the most traditional fare. Reservations are recommended at peak times, as large tour groups can arrive en masse.

There are two parts to the night market, one section selling clothes and tourist items and the other serving sweet and savory treats from a variety of carts, with vendors who are well versed in the point-and-nod style of ordering. Most of the food can be munched while strolling and is more of a snack than a meal. Stalls start appearing at around 6 pm each day.

A basic riverfront restaurant firmly targeted at the tourist trade, Phuong Nam does a range of fast, budget-friendly Vietnamese dishes. The interior is basic, with check tablecloths and chunky wooden furniture, and the fan-cooled restaurant is open to the street. The menu has vegetarian, seafood, pork, chicken, and snake dishes.

In a superb riverside setting inside Can Tho's beautiful old market hall, Sao Hom is one of the only restaurants on the water's edge (or on the water, if you manage to get a table on their dock). The menu seems stretched trying to please everyone with its range of made-for-tourist Vietnamese dishes, including the local version of cha gio (spring rolls), as well as Western favorites. But with friendly, polite staff and an interesting location beside busy Ninh Kieu boat pier, Sao Hom is a great place to pause and watch the river with drinks or snacks.

This cozy steak house is a chance to get out of tourist center and enjoy a simple menu of steak (six cuts available) prepared to order, with choice of sauce, classic sides, and wine by the glass or bottle. Reservations are strongly recommended as seating is limited and it's popular with locals.

There are several chain-type dining outlets inside Vincom Xuan Khanh, a multilevel shopping mall and cinema adjacent to Sheraton Can Tho. Level 4 is where most of the eateries are, as well as an indoor kids' play center. Choices include Thai BBQ Buffet, GoGi House (Korean), Kichi-Kichi (Japanese), and dim sum/Chinese restaurant chain Crystal Jade Kitchen.