A trip to southern Vietnam can’t be completed without a visit to the Mekong Delta, a marvelous land famous for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. At the center of the delta is the Can Tho floating market, one of the country’s largest and most iconic floating markets. As a traveler, visiting this vibrant marketplace is a must-do experience that provides insight into the daily lives and traditions of local river communities. Let’s learn all you need to know about Cai Rang and Phong Dien floating markets in Can Tho with Luxury Cruise Mekong!
Why Can Tho floating market happen?
The Mekong Delta, home to Can Tho, is a vast network of rivers and canals. This watery landscape makes boats the perfect way to travel and trade. In this region of Vietnam, the Can Tho Floating Market stands out as a bustling center of commerce thanks to the area’s strong farming traditions.
The Mekong Delta is famous for its wide variety of produce. For many years, farmers and traders from nearby areas have gathered at the floating market to buy and sell everything from fresh fruits and vegetables to everyday goods.
Situated along the Mekong River, this market provides easy access for transporting and distributing products, making it a vital trading post in the region. The lively energy and vibrant atmosphere of the Can Tho Floating Market reflect the importance of agriculture in the lives of the local people.
Best time to visit Can Tho floating market
The floating markets in Can Tho are open throughout the year and can be visited at any time of the year. However, for a truly enjoyable trip, consider these ideal times in the dry season from October to April. At this time, the Mekong Delta weather is pleasant, with cooler temperatures and lower humidity levels. During this period, rainfall significantly decreases, and the region showcases different beauty.
For Cai Rang floating market: From early morning to 9 a.m., vendors come together to exchange fresh produce, crafts, and household goods. This creates a lively atmosphere, especially between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m., when a lot of boats fill up the waterway.
For Phong Dien floating market: As a local expert, we do know that the Phong Dien floating market closes after 7:30 am. It is a small, local market with around 45 boats and sampans. It’s most bustling and authentic at sunrise, and the locals start heading home around 6:45 am. The best time to visit is between 5:30 am and 6:30 am to fully experience the market and witness an amazing sunrise over the Mekong Delta River.
How to get to Can Tho floating market
Cai Rang floating market
To get to this floating market in Can Tho, you can take a 40-minute boat ride from Ninh Kieu Wharf, which is located 6 kilometers away from the city center. You can easily take a taxi or motorbike to get to the wharf.
Phong Dien floating market
Located on the Phong Dien River in Phong Dien Town, about 17 kilometers away from the city center
You have two options: Take a taxi from Can Tho City, the ride is about 45 minutes. The other option is to catch a boat tour from Can Tho. These tours typically take longer, around 1.5 hours.
After that, there are many ways to see the markets. The package holidaymakers can choose large, powerful boats providing a sanitized experience, but opt for a trip by sampan instead for something a little more amazing (plus the ability to traverse the small waterways on the way back to town).
What to do and to see at Can Tho floating market
Cai Rang floating market
The floating markets and associated river life are the most interesting sights in the Delta. Coming here in the early morning, you can see large boats anchor and create lanes where smaller boats weave in and out, creating a network of hundreds of boats filled with fruits, like pineapple, papaya, bananas, and mango, as well as other goods. Most of the items sold here are farm products and specialties of Chau Thanh District, Cai Rang Town, and nearby areas.
A visit to the Cai Rang market provides insight into the local water-based commerce and culture. It’s not a typical spot for souvenirs, but rather a place where people come to purchase various goods, mostly food, and to experience the unique waterway lifestyle of the Mekong Delta.
Top tip: In the US program Masterchef season 4, episode 21, Vietnamese noodle soup has become a difficult topic for the contestants in the top 5. Gordon Ramsay’s favorite dish when he came to Cai Rang floating market, Can Tho, Vietnam. Do not miss the noodle soup (Hu Tieu or Bun Rieu) there!
Phong Dien Floating Market
Unlike the wholesale market of Cai Rang, which abounds in huge heaps of diverse commodities, Phong Dien Floating Market is where you can find not only agricultural products but also many other ones.
At the floating markets in the Mekong Delta, particularly at Phong Dien Floating Market, you can find boats selling a wide range of household and working tools such as knives, hoes, roofing sheets, machetes, canoes, and various domestic and foreign goods.
Additionally, these boats also offer weaving products like baskets and fishing tools such as fishing nets. Moreover, you can find a variety of dishes being sold, including Hu Tieu, rice soup, noodles with toasted meat, noodle soup, and coffee.
One unique feature of these floating markets is the use of pillars, which are part of a bamboo tree plugged in front of the boats. The products are hung on these pillars, creating an exotic and appealing display for buyers. This form of promoting and selling products is a unique cultural feature specific to the floating markets in the region. To find what to buy, all you need to do is look at the pillar.
Insider tips to visit
- Bring cash: Many vendors don’t accept credit cards, so bring cash for your shopping.
- Bargaining is welcome: Don’t be afraid to haggle a bit for the best price on souvenirs or snacks.
- Learn a few basic Vietnamese phrases: A friendly “xin chao” (hello) goes a long way
- Be a respectful visitor: Remember, the floating market is a place where people work and live. Be mindful of their space and take photos respectfully.
Where to go next?
After visiting the vibrant Can Tho Floating Market, there are several nearby destinations that visitors can explore:
- Can Tho City: Explore the vibrant city, visit the Ninh Kieu Wharf, and try local cuisine.
- Mekong Delta Islands: Visit scenic islands like Tan Chau and Thot Not for a peaceful retreat.
- Soc Trang Province: Discover ancient Khmer temples and learn about the local Khmer culture.
- Ben Tre Province: The kingdom of Coconut with lush green and off-the-beaten-track destination
- Chau Doc: Tour the Sam Mountain and visit the floating houses and fish farms.
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From Luxury Cruise Mekong Team, a brand of Indochina Voyages!
