What it is
Khu Di Tich Long My is a historical memorial complex located in the Long My area, on the southern fringe of greater Can Tho. The site commemorates local resistance during the wartime period and preserves remnants of the region's revolutionary base — bunkers, meeting halls, and monument grounds set among fruit orchards and rice paddies. It's a quiet, reflective place, not a blockbuster attraction, and that's part of its appeal.
The area was historically part of Hau Giang province before administrative redistricting folded it into the expanded Can Tho (껀터 / 芹苴 / カントー) municipality. Locals still refer to it as Long My, and you'll hear the old Hau Giang name used interchangeably when asking for directions.
Why travelers go
Most visitors to Can Tho head straight to Cai Rang floating market and call it done. Khu Di Tich Long My draws a different crowd — people who want to understand the Mekong Delta (메콩 델타 / 湄公河三角洲 / メコンデルタ) beyond tourism set-pieces. The site offers:
- A window into rural southern Vietnam (베트남 / 越南 / ベトナム)'s wartime history, presented without heavy propaganda overlay
- Peaceful grounds for walking, surrounded by coconut palms and longan trees
- A chance to see everyday delta life in a district that receives almost zero foreign tourists
- A natural pairing with a countryside motorbike loop through Long My's canal-laced backroads
It won't consume a full day, but combined with the ride out and a lunch stop, it fills a solid half-day itinerary.
Best time to visit
The Mekong Delta is hot year-round, but the dry season (December through April) makes the unpaved paths around the memorial grounds more pleasant. Visit in the morning — gates typically open by 7:00 AM — before the midday heat pins you to a hammock. Weekdays are emptiest; weekends bring school groups and domestic visitors.
During Tet and national holidays (April 30, September 2), expect small ceremonies at the monument. These can be interesting to observe respectfully, but the site gets crowded.
How to get there
From central Can Tho (Ninh Kieu district), Long My is roughly 60 km southwest along QL61B. Options:
Motorbike
The best way. Rent from your hotel or a shop on Hai Ba Trung street (150,000–200,000 VND/day for a Honda Wave). The ride takes about 1.5 hours through flat delta roads, passing fish ponds and rice fields. Fuel up before leaving — stations thin out past Phung Hiep.
Bus
Local buses run from Can Tho bus station toward Long My town. Ask for "ben xe Long My" — the fare is around 40,000–50,000 VND. From Long My town center, the memorial is 3–4 km further; grab a xe om (motorbike taxi) for 20,000 VND.
Private car / Grab
Grab cars operate in Can Tho but drivers may hesitate on the long rural route. Negotiate a round-trip fare (expect 500,000–700,000 VND with wait time). A hotel-arranged car costs more but guarantees the return.
Photo by Valeria Drozdova on Pexels
What to do
The memorial complex itself takes 30–45 minutes to walk through. You'll find:
- A central monument and commemorative steles
- Reconstructed underground meeting rooms and bunkers
- A small exhibition hall with photographs, maps, and wartime artifacts
- Landscaped grounds with shaded benches
There's no English signage — bring Google Translate's camera mode or ask a local visitor to explain context. The caretaker staff are friendly and occasionally speak basic English.
After the site, the real reward is the surrounding countryside. Ride the narrow concrete paths along canals, stop at a roadside "quan nuoc" (drink shop) for iced coffee, and watch cargo boats navigate the waterways. This is the unhurried Mekong Delta that package tours skip.
Where to eat
Long My town has a handful of local rice-and-noodle spots along the main road. Look for:
- Hu tieu Nam Vang — the Mekong Delta's signature pork and prawn noodle soup, served everywhere for 30,000–40,000 VND
- Com tam with grilled pork chop — standard lunch fare, filling and cheap at 35,000–45,000 VND
- Fresh fruit smoothies from market vendors — Long My grows excellent sapodilla and custard apple
If you ride back through Phung Hiep, stop at the market town for "banh xeo" — the southern-style crispy crepes here are enormous, stuffed with shrimp and beansprouts, and cost 20,000–25,000 VND each.
For Vietnamese coffee, any roadside cafe will pour a proper drip "ca phe sua da (연유커피 / 越南冰咖啡 / ベトナムアイスコーヒー)" over ice for 15,000–20,000 VND.
Where to stay
Long My town has basic guesthouses ("nha nghi") from 150,000–250,000 VND/night — functional but no-frills. Unless you're committed to a deep-rural overnight, most travelers base themselves in Can Tho's Ninh Kieu district and day-trip to Long My. Can Tho has everything from 200,000 VND hostels to proper hotels along Hai Ba Trung and Hoa Binh streets.
Photo by Anh Tuấn Lê on Pexels
Practical tips
- Bring cash. There are no ATMs at the memorial site, and card payments don't exist in Long My's food stalls.
- Wear a hat and sunscreen. The grounds have some shade, but the ride is fully exposed.
- Carry water. At least 1.5 liters for the round trip if riding a motorbike.
- Dress modestly. It's a memorial — shorts are fine but avoid anything too revealing out of respect.
- Fuel up in Can Tho or Phung Hiep. Don't assume you'll find a station exactly when you need one.
Common mistakes
- Rushing it. The site alone isn't worth 3 hours of riding. Build in time for the countryside loop, a market stop, and lunch — that's what makes the trip worthwhile.
- Going in the afternoon. By 1 PM the heat is brutal and the grounds lose their morning calm.
- Expecting a polished museum. This is a modest provincial memorial, not Cu Chi Tunnels. Adjust expectations and you'll appreciate it for what it is — a genuine local heritage site.
- Skipping Phung Hiep on the way back. The old market town is a natural rest stop with better food options than Long My itself.
Final note
Khu Di Tich Long My won't make anyone's top-ten list for Can Tho, and that's exactly why it's worth visiting. It pairs well with a morning at Cai Rang market or an afternoon boat ride — a counterpoint to the tourist trail that reminds you the Mekong Delta is lived-in, layered, and far bigger than its postcard moments.
Last updated · May 19, 2026 · independently researched, never sponsored.
