1. Cai Rang Floating Market (Can Tho City)
Located on a tributary of Hau river, 600m from Cai Rang bridge, Cai Rang floating market is the wholesale market and major tourist attraction of Can Tho city. This largest and busiest floating market in the Mekong Delta was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2016 and is the most beautiful floating market in Asia ranked by Youramazingplaces.
Photo: @chomchom_ken_52
From Ninh Kieu wharf, you can take a boat for about 30 minutes to reach the center of the market. The market is open from 5 am to 8 or 9 am, busiest at dawn with hundreds of locals from neighboring provinces selling on their rafts. Interestingly, each boat has a bamboo pole to hang the items that the boat owner sells. It’s a clever and unique way of advertising. Goods are diverse from farm produce to home appliances, handicrafts, ceramics.
Can Tho city has a hot and humid climate all year round, so visitors can go to the market anytime they want.
2. Phong Dien Floating Market (Can Tho City)
Going further from Can Tho city about 17km, you will encounter the bustling river trade scene. The short, half-hour boat tour to Phong Dien Floating Market offers a breath of fresh air in a peaceful atmosphere. Alternatively, tourists can stand on the nearby bridge to catch a bird’s eye view of the chaos.
Photo: @xinchao_vietnam.vn
Operating from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. daily, dozens of small boats and sampans are loaded with fruit, food, instant noodles, and drinking water to serve visitors. Although a small retail floating market, Phong Dien Floating Market is included in many sampan tours along with Cai Rang Floating Market, noodle factory, fruit garden and organic cocoa farm.
3. Tra On floating market (Vinh Long province)
Located at the confluence of Mang Thit and Hau rivers, Tra On stands out for its famous wholesale floating market in the region. Get your camera ready to capture the real, lifelike atmosphere.
Photo: @mymirie_traveldiary
Tra On floating market opens early from 2-3 am to about 6 am. Most of the locals gather here to sell agricultural products, especially fruits. You will find loads of tropical fruits here such as bananas, guava, oranges, coconuts, durians, etc. Similar to Cai Rang floating market, they also hang things on the “baby”, a long stick for announcements. for the buyer.
The most bustling commercial scene of Tra On Floating Village is witnessed at dawn, then at night, this place becomes a wharf for boats to anchor.
4. Chau Doc Floating Market (An Giang Province)
Besides Sam mountain, Ba Chua Xu temple, Chau Doc floating market is a unique feature of An Giang province. The market is located along the Hau River to the northwest of An Giang. Chau Doc floating market is considered an important trade gateway of the Mekong Delta due to its proximity to the Cambodian border.
Photo: @asianimages_adammartin
Wooden boats are not only a place to exchange goods but also a shelter for local people. The most sold items here are fruits from many places such as Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Long An, Hau Giang. To feel the most bustling atmosphere of Chau Doc floating market, visitors should come around 7-8 am.
5. Long Xuyen Floating Market (An Giang Province)
Belonging to An Giang province, Long Xuyen is one of the most famous floating markets in the Mekong Delta. Part of the adventure is getting out in the middle of the deep river and surrounded by the vast waters of the Hau River and picturesque scenery. Long Xuyen floating market really attracts a lot of tourists to visit every year.
Photo: @langthang.angiang
Sitting on a traditional small boat, you will pass the crowds selling their wares. Samples are also hung on bamboo poles and taken down when sold out. Tourists are especially interested in fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood as well as the way people bargain. Besides shopping for high-quality goods, nature lovers also have the opportunity to see the charming countryside and meet friendly merchants.
Source: https://traveland.com.vn
