Cần Thơ
Cần Thơ, also written as Can Tho or Cantho (standard Vietnamese: [kən˨˩ tʰəː˧˧], Southern: [kʌŋ˨˩ tʰəː]), is the fourth-largest city in Vietnam, and the largest city along the Mekong Delta region in Vietnam.[5][6]
"Cantho" redirects here. For the prefix "cantho-", see List of commonly used taxonomic affixes.
Cần Thơ
1789
5 urban districts, 4 rural districts
Cần Thơ People's Council
Lê Quang Mạnh
Phạm Văn Hiểu
Trần Việt Trường
1,440.40 km2 (556.14 sq mi)
1,250,792
870/km2 (2,200/sq mi)
894,500
97.47%
1.59%
0.88%
0.06%
292
65
2022[4]
US$5.42 billion
US$4.409
It is noted for its floating markets, rice paper-making village, and picturesque rural canals.[6] It has a population of around 1,282,300 as of 2018,[7] and is located on the south bank of the Hậu River, a distributary of the Mekong River. In 2007, about 50 people died when the Cần Thơ Bridge collapsed, causing Vietnam's worst engineering disaster.[8] In 2011, Cần Thơ International Airport opened.[9]
The city is nicknamed the "Western Metropolis" (Tây Đô / 西都), and is located 169 kilometres (105 miles) from Hồ Chí Minh City.
History[edit]
During the Vietnam War, Cần Thơ was the home of the ARVN IV Corps capital. The ARVN 21st division was dedicated to protect the city of Cần Thơ, including the provinces of Chương Thiện (now in Hậu Giang), Bạc Liêu, An Xuyen (Cà Mau), Ba Xuyen (Soc Trang), and Kiên Giang. Before 1975, Cần Thơ was part of Phong Dinh province. On November 1, 1955, the third Light Division changed into the thirteenth Light Division, and the fifteenth, twelfth, and 106th regiments transformed into the 37th, 38th, and 39th regiments. The 37th and 38th Regiments consisted of battalions that originated in the present MR 3. The 39th regiment consisted of battalions from My Tho and Sa Dec in the Delta. The 39th Regiment participated in the successful campaigns against dissidents in Hua Hau in 1955–1956.
The Mekong Delta is considered to be the "rice basket of Vietnam", contributing more than half of the nation's rice production. People say of Cần Thơ:
Cần Thơ (shared with Hậu Giang) is famous for its floating markets, especially Cai Rang Floating Market, where people sell and buy things on the river, as well as the bird gardens and the port of Ninh Kiều. The city offers a wide range of tropical fruits such as pomelo, longan, jackfruit, mango, guava, banana, rambutan, mangosteen, dragon fruit and durian. The Cần Thơ City Museum has exhibits on the city's history.[12]
Tourist attractions:
Education[edit]
Academic institutions in the city are Cần Thơ University, Cần Thơ Department of Education and Training, Cần Thơ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tây Đô University, Nam Cần Thơ University, Cần Thơ College, College of Foreign Economic Relations – Cần Thơ Branch, Medical College, Singapore International School at Can Tho,[15] Cần Thơ Technical Economic College[16] and Vocational College, with its well-known College of Agriculture and Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute, Cần Thơ University of Technology.
