FLOATING MARKET

CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET IN 
CAN THO

If you had a chance to pay a visit to the South-West of Viet Nam, you definitely can not miss the Floating Market or "Cho Noi". On the way to MeKong Delta, it is easy for you to catch sight of this type of market, which can be found in most provinces of MeKong. However, the one that really stands out is that Cai Rang floating market (Can Tho).

COLORFUL MARKET

From Cai Rang Bridge, the market stretches half kilometre downstream Can Tho River. Hundreds of boats gathering here from the dawn till before noon makes the area extraordinary animated, and the water surface colorful with numerous tropical fruits. The large sized anchored boats create meandering lanes for smaller ones to weave through. All create a bustling and joyful atmosphere that can attract any tourists.

Floating market has existed for a long time in the region, and it is basically a wholesale market where people sell and purchase commodities above water. Since rivers are the main way of transportation, ferries and boats are very popular for traveling and transporting. Gradually, people gathered together at one or some certain places on the river to sell fruits mostly picked from their own gardens. Then they made business by selling foods, goods which had been brought from other places.

ACTIVITIES

A floating market usually starts at 4 or 5 in the morning before dawn and ends when the sun rises high at 9 or 10am. Fruits and vegetables such as pineapple, dragon fruit, water melon, yam, and cabbage are the dominant goods at these floating market. Besides, you can also find garden tools, crafts and Vietnamese breakfast like rice noodle “Bun” or “Hu Tieu”.  It is very interesting to try to manage the chopstick and soup bowl while paddling along the river.

Furtheremore, you will experience drinking coconut while on the boat, which is really pure and tasty. 

After enjoying local breakfast and watching the sun rising, one can charter either a motorized boat or a non motorized one to begin a morning shopping in floating market. 

DISTINCTIVE FEATURE

The noticeable feature of the floating market is “Cay Beo”. This is a small pillar which is put in front of every boat. What can be bought from the boat will be hung on the small pillar as a notice sign. 

WHAT TO PURCHASE

Most of the boats here are packed with a lot of farm products and specialties of Cai Rang Town, Chau Thanh district and the nearby areas like vegetables, coconut, banana, watermelon, grapefruit, dragon fruit and so on. Small boats that sell soft drinks, wine and food for breakfast in order to serve market-goers and visitors. Other services and products like mending machine, selling gasoline, mobile card, clothes, hats,... are also available here. There is no difference between products that are sold in common markets on land and those on river. 

Trading from boats brings excitement to buyers when catching some sample of products that are thrown by sellers from other boats. While shopping on boat, one can also enjoy fresh fruits and see floating house of the locals along the riverside.

OUTSTANDING TOURIST ATTRACTION

Cai Rang Floating Market has become a top choice market in Can Tho. For tourists who travel to Can Tho, metropolis of the south-west, it would be regretful if they could not drop by and purchase something in Cai Rang (6km from Can Tho city) - one of the most famous and biggest floating markets in the Mekong Delta.

Quynh Nhu's blog