Cai Rang Floating market

To mention the typical culture of the Mekong Delta, the floating market may be the most highlight element, a unique type of market that probably cannot be found in other regions in Viet Nam. Among them, Cai Rang floating market is the busiest and most typical market, which has been voted as one of the 10 most impressive markets in the world by the travel magazine Rough Guide, the famous travel website “Your amazing places” also voted it as one of the 5 most beautiful floating markets in Asia.

Cai Rang floating market is held on the waterway of Can Tho River - Xa No canal, which is advantageous for trading with neighboring provinces and the Mekong Delta. Cai Rang floating market is the largest and busiest of the other Mekong Delta floating markets, with hundreds of boats gathered to buy and sell, from boats of Vietnamese fruits, boats of Khmer people selling coffee to a Chinese grocery store in a family raft...

It is about 6 km from the center of Can Tho city to Cai Rang Floating Market and it takes about 15 minutes to transfer by car, and 30 minutes by boat from Ninh Kieu wharf. If you get there by car, you will run along Vo Tanh street to Ba Lang canal, towards Phong Dien district, about 500m from Cai Rang bridge. But most tourists, when visiting Cai Rang Floating Market, choose the boats to travel, because when traveling by boat so that they can feel the full beauty of the river. The way of sitting on the boat weaving through the canals to the Cai Rang floating market is also very interesting. You have the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery on both sides of the river with soaring green coconut palms and small hamlets nestled.

Traders started the meeting in the early morning, around 4 – 5 Am, in Cai Rang floating market to trade and sold the goods to wholesalers to bring agricultural products to the mainland market. However, normally the best light is around 6-7 AM so you do not need to be there soon. It is reasonable to start from Ninh Kieu wharf at around 5:30 or 6:00 to get to Cai Rang floating market to catch the best time of it. At that time, the sunrise began to appear beautifully in Ninh Kieu wharf and is not too harsh and completely satisfied the needs of tourists. Moreover, traders were also less busy communicating and talk with tourists. In case you cannot be there at the ideal time, the market is still in operation until 9 - 10 am for those who would like to explore the atmosphere at Cai Rang floating market. Usually all tourists will not miss 5 activities below when they visit Cai Rang Floating market:

• Eating Bun Rieu (vermicelli) in a boat when traveling to Cai Rang floating market

What is special and different when eating noodles? The famous American chef - Gordon Ramsay regarded it especially unique after tasting a bowl of “Bun Rieu”. He also included it in The Master Chef in the US. Then, what makes a specialty noodle bowl of Cai Rang floating market so tasty? First of all, it is the delicious bone broth made by the skill of people on the boats. A dish on the river serves long-time train drivers and tourists creates a brand to please many diners. It’s also not an easy manner to eat on the boat if you do not want your bowl of noodles is poured out. Holding a bowl of vermicelli and eating slowly is also a challenge. Unique cuisine is the most special thing about Cai Rang floating market.

• Enjoy a cup of coffee in a special way that only has in Cai Rang floating market

The coffee seller at Cai Rang floating market has a special method to make a hot and delicious coffee to serve customers by "storing" coffee. They always have a clay pot, and behind the pot, fire is always kept to heat coffee. That’s the secret of a tasty coffee in Cai Rang market. You can find nowhere to keep this coffee like the sellers in Cai Rang floating market.

• Pay the price and choose the fruit on the boat when traveling to Cai Rang floating market

When you buy fruits from a boat, you can try eating fruits first. Don’t forget to bargain to get the best price as some locals can mark up the price a bit if they find brand new tourists. As long as you do not pay them too cheaply, just pay a little, you will certainly get a promotion or discount!

• Take photos

The bustling boat scene of Cai Rang floating market in the morning is always wonderful scenery for the tourists who hunt the best photos. The colorful of the fruits and goods on the boats gathered on the market combine with the beautiful sunlight, blue sky and sparkling river, all the bustle of the boats is a great photography background for tourists.

• Eating pineapple on the roof of the local people

Pineapple is a popular and also a delicious and nutritious fruit that can be found easily in tropical land, especially in Cai Rang market. You can see the big boats at the top of the floating market sell the freshest pineapples and can buy them easily. It is a pity if you visit Cai Rang market without enjoying some homemade salt with a special recipe, you will drool when seeing it. It’s a spectacular experience when stepping on the roofs of the locals waiting for peeling pineapple, you can catch an overview of Cai Rang floating market from above and shoot your marvelous photos with a more absolute perspective of Cai Rang floating market.

Suggested tours in Cai Rang:

You can combine Cai Rang floating market during a 2-day tour visit Can Tho from Ho Chi Minh City or discover Mekong Delta. Besides Cai Rang floating market, you can also visit Binh Thuy ancient house, and visit the fruit Garden in Can Tho…

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