Vietnamese Eel Curry in Can Tho, Vietnam

Vietnamese Eel Curry in Can Tho city, Can Tho province

When talking about Southern Vietnamese food that impressed me, mr.hotsia, unforgettable, one dish I must highlight is “eel curry” in Can Tho city, or as Vietnamese call it, Can Tho, the center of the Mekong Delta. This is a city I have actually traveled to, experiencing the local lifestyle and deeply tasting the authentic local flavors.

Can Tho is a city full of waterways and world-famous floating markets such asCai Rang Floating MarketA bustling floating market and a major destination for many tourists. I, mr.hotsia, have taken boat rides through this market several times and witnessed trade that still preserves the natural way of Southern Vietnamese people, absorbing a unique culture of eating and living completely different from elsewhere.

The Vietnamese eel curry here is special unlike anywhere else because it uses large fresh eels from the real Mekong River, cooked with local curry spices that are rich and fragrant with Southern Vietnamese herbs and spices. The flavor is intense but not overly spicy, with a slightly sweet and sour taste from tamarind and a variety of fresh herbs depending on the season available at Can Tho’s fresh markets.Fresh market in the city centerWhere I, mr.hotsia, stopped to buy ingredients and talked with vendors about the sources of eels and various herbs.

I remember arriving in Can Tho before dawn, then booking a boat tour of the Cai Rang floating market. Afterwards, I traveled to a small riverside community with a local restaurant serving authentic Vietnamese eel curry. This small restaurant had no big sign but the aroma of the eel curry that reached my nose made me walk in and sit down immediately.

While waiting for the eel curry to be served, I watched the life along the Mekong River — locals paddling boats to sell goods and tourists amazed by the unique floating market atmosphere. The eel curry I tasted was rich and flavorful, each bite full of tender eel meat that was chewy but not tough. It was delicious with hot steamed rice or French bread, which is commonly eaten with curry in Vietnam.

For anyone interested in trying this eel curry, I, mr.hotsia, recommend planning to stay in Can Tho for at least 2-3 days to have enough time to explore the Cai Rang floating market andfully enjoy Can Tho cityBesides eel curry, there are many other local dishes worth trying here, such as grilled pork wrapped in betel leaves or the original nem nuong (grilled pork sausage) famous in this city.

Traveling to Can Tho is convenient. I have taken both buses and taxis from the city center to Cai Rang floating market, which is about 6 kilometers away. Taxi fares are around 150 Thai Baht, and if you want to take a boat tour of the floating market, the boat fare is about 300 Thai Baht per boat. There are also local buses at cheaper prices for budget travelers.Read more details about Can Tho bus stationsright here.

If you enjoy the floating market atmosphere and want to deeply experience life along the Mekong River, I, mr.hotsia, recommend staying at a riverside hotel near Cai Rang floating market. The morning view from the room overlooking boats selling goods passing by is a memory I will never forget.

Besides eel curry, Can Tho also has authentic Vietnamese snacks I really like, such as sticky rice topped with fried chicken or fragrant roast duck from street vendors, which I have recorded inthe Vietnamese eel curry eating clip in Can ThoandCan Tho roast duckfor you to watch along.

Finally, tasting “Vietnamese eel curry” in Can Tho is not just about eating food but about learning culture and experiencing the simple yet truly charming lifestyle of Southern Vietnamese people. For anyone looking for a unique travel experience in Southern Vietnam, I recommend visiting Can Tho and trying this dish. mr.hotsia guarantees you will fall in love with this city just like I did.