Published on Feb, 2024
Our guide was a local woman, An Tran, and she was wonderful. We had trouble locating the meeting point and were 10 minutes late. We called An and she was able to explain in fluent English where to find her, and she graciously waited for us. The trip on the small canals in late afternoon was serene and our boat pilot (another middle-aged woman) was patient and skillful. After docking, An took us to Ong Temple and explained the religious carvings and historical significance of the temple. Then she steered us toward street food vendors who were selling items we would never have tried but for An. Can Tho was very crowded on this last day of Tet but An knew where her vendors would be. We had a crepe filled with sticky rice, red bean paste, mung bean paste and coconut milk; a Vietnamese coconut candy; a rice pancake taco kinda thing filled with pork, egg, and herbs. Then we sat for a refreshing drink of coconut water with lime. Walking through town, we stopped by a woman making crepes made of rice flour and coconut milk, cooked in a sizzling hot wok and filled with sweetened shredded coconut. An explained that making this dish is becoming a lost art. Our last stop was for Banh Mi, a baguette sandwich with the filling of your choice. Altogether an unforgettable experience, thanks to An. Highly recommend!