The study was conducted to assess the current state of surface water environment, the causes of surface water pollution and to recommend measures to manage surface water quality in Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city, Vietnam. Surface water quality was assessed through the parameters of pH, temperature, turbidity, dissolved oxygen (DO), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), suspended solids (TSS), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonium (NH₄⁺-N), nitrite (NO₂^--N), nitrate (NO₃^--N), orthophosphate (PO₄^3--P), coliform. Surface water monitoring data was collected from Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Can Tho city in 2019. Causes of environmental pollution were investigated through surveyed the places and interviewed 40 households living near the water bodies in Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city. The results showed that DO, BOD, COD, TSS, NH₄⁺-N, PO₄^3--P exceeded the allowable limits of National Technical regulations on surface water quality (QCVN 08-MT: 2015/BTNMT, column A1) proving the surface water in the study area contaminated by suspended solids, organic matters and nutrients. The household interviewing findings revealed the main sources of water pollution were caused by solid wastes and domestic wastewater and wastes from the market area, business production and trading activities. To manage surface water effectively, it is necessary to have management solutions to strengthen law enforcement on environmental protection and at the same time to propagate and mobilize communities to participate in water quality management.