During the French colonial period, the canal was dredged from the Tien River branching into the Hau River, above Chau Doc Market, so it was named the New Canal, also called Tan Chau Canal.
The folk saying ‘Cai Rang, Ba Lang, Vam Xang, Phong Dien’ easily makes those who are not from Can Tho think that these are four different places. In fact, these are four locality names but only two actual locations. This is because Ba Lang belongs to Cai Rang, while Vam Xang belongs to Phong Dien. If the above folk saying is explained a little further for clarity, it would be ‘Cai Rang has Ba Lang, Vam Xang is in Phong Dien.’
Cai Rang is an inner-city district, while Phong Dien is a suburban district of Can Tho city.
Ba Lang is a ward of Cai Rang district, and the western side of this ward borders Phong Dien district.
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