(VNF) - The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Can Tho has won the 2016 Asian Townscape Award from the Asia-Pacific regional office of the United Nations Human Settlements (UN-HABITAT) programme.

Floating Markets in Can Tho. (Photo: crossingtravel.com)

The award seeks to honour significant efforts made by Asian cities and organizations for the improvement, revitalization and creation of a beautiful and harmonious townscape that is safe and sustainable and respects history and local cultures.

The awards ceremony for the contest, which consists of the Asian Townscape Prize and Jury Voting Prize, is expected to take place in China at the end of this month.

Can Tho is the largest city in the Mekong Delta. Set on the southern bank of the Hau (Rear) River, it is best known for its canal network and floating markets.

The busy Ninh Kieu waterfront is a hub for boat trips on surrounding waterways. Illuminated at night, Can Tho’s waterfront is home to floating restaurants, bars and hotels.

Begun in 2010, the sixth annual contest was organized by the UN-HABITAT Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Asian Settlement Commission, Asian Landscape Design Organization and the Fukuoka Asian Urban Research Centre.

Tam Ky, the capital of Quang Nam Province, has won the 2015 Asian Townscape Award and Hoi An, the ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam has won the Awards in 2013./.

Some pictures of Can Tho:

Morning market. (Photo: arwen_and_i on Instagram)

Riverside. (Photo: mazzie_baby on Instagram)

Sunrise on the Mekong Delta, Can Tho. (Photo: mbzuckerman on Instagram)

Can Tho Bridge. (Photo: kayumichan17 on Instagram)

A woman sells Hu Tieu (rice noodle soup) in Cai Rang floating market. (Photo: anhngoclee on Instagram)

( Compiled by VNF )