Cai Rang Floating Market – A Must-go destination in Can Tho

Cai Rang Floating Market is one of the attractions of Can Tho province. Among the other floating markets, this market is considered the largest in the Mekong Delta. Cai Rang Floating Market is a wholesale floating market specializing in buying and selling vegetables on the Can Tho River.

The Overview of the Cai Rang Floating Market

The best time to visit Cai Rang Floating market

Can Tho have two separate seasons: rainy and sunny. The rainy season starts from May to November and the dry season from December to April of the following year. You can go to the floating market in both seasons. But if you like fruit, the best time to go there is in the sunny season.

Most of the floating markets in the Mekong Delta open very early in the morning. Thus, the best time to visit the Cai Rang floating market is around 4-5 a.m. At this time, boats begin to gather on the river. You can enjoy the bustling atmosphere of trading and admire the beautiful sunrise.

How to get to Cai Rang Floating Market

How to go to the market from Ninh Kieu Wharf

From the center of Can Tho city, go to Ninh Kieu Wharf to take a boat to the Cai Rang floating market. Ninh Kieu Wharf is about 7.5km from the city center. You can ride a motorbike, rent a taxi, or a car to get to the Wharf.

At Ninh Kieu Wharf, tourists can choose among many boat rental agencies to visit the floating market, or they can book boats in advance by the traveling agencies and hotels.

How to go to the market from An Binh market

A Binh market is near the foot of the Cai Rang Bridge, about 5km southwest of Can Tho city center. The distance is not too far so you can travel there by motorbike, rent a taxi or rent a car. At An Binh market,  there are several households providing boat rental services to visit the floating market and some nearby attractions such as gardens, My Khanh tourist village, and tourist attractions for tourists to choose from.

The history of the Cai Rang floating market

In the past, the waterway transportation system played almost a unique role in trading. While the trading demand was increasing, river intersections and roundabouts became ideal places for people to gather to buy and sell products.

The market had a convenient location for trading, located right at the confluence of three rivers (Cai Rang and Hau River branches). This location had a water level that was neither deep nor shallow so boats could easily anchor and move.

For this reason, at the beginning of the 20th century, the Cai Rang floating market was formed, mainly trading agricultural products and fruits, vegetables, and specialties of the Mekong Delta.

What kinds of products are sold at the Cai Rang floating market 

The development of the road transportation system is putting the floating market at risk. Thus, the local authority and people begin to operate many tourist activities to bring popularity back to the market.

Apart from selling fruit and vegetables, boat vendors start to sell local dishes such as rice noodle soups, coffee, etc. to diversify the market. Under the positive impact of tourism, the floating market continues to grow sustainably.

Moreover, the Cai Rang Can Tho floating market was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2016.

Hanging bamboo poles – a unique way to advertise products at the floating market 

One of the most attractive features of the Cai Rang floating market is how people advertise their products. Instead of using technology or colorful posters, they use bamboo poles. They will hang the selling products on the poles. This makes many tourists excited when they learn about the meanings of these bamboo poles. However, there are three rules for this form of advertisement.

Rule 1: The clothes of the boat owners are hung but not for sale. For many traders at the floating market, the boat is their home so they can do every daily activity here, even do the washing up. Due to the narrow space on the boat, they have to hang their clothes on the bamboo poles to dry them.

Rule 2:  Food and drinks are products sold without hanging on the bamboo poles. The boats selling these products will use the trumpet. While rowing their boats, they will pedal the trumpet on their feet. When hearing the sound of the trumpet, people will immediately know this boat selling food and drinks.

Rule 3: Some boats hang a certain thing but they sell another. If you see a bamboo pole hanging a roofing sheet or a coconut leaf, this means the boat owners want to sell their own boats.

What to do at Cai Rang Floating Market 

Enjoy local food right at the market on the river

From 5 to 6 a.m. is an ideal time for having breakfast. To serve local people and tourists, there are many small boats selling breakfast such as rice noodle soup, fried rice noodles with pork, rice with grilled pork, etc.

In addition, tourists can try many different drinks, including tea, coffee, coconut juice, and so on. Enjoying breakfast right on the boat will be an unforgettable experience for tourists because there are no chairs or tables here.

Watch the view of sunrise on the boat

The best time to visit the market is in the early morning. It is also the time when the sun starts to rise. When on the boat, tourists can watch the wonderful view of sunrise and enjoy the very sunlight of the day. This is a golden moment because tourists can take many wonderful photos.

Join the boat tour to discover other places nearby

If visitors book a boat tour, they can visit other places of interest near the Cai Rang floating market such as rice noodle factories, fruit orchards, Binh Thuy ancient house, Con Son Islet, Muoi Cuong cacao farm, Phong Dien floating market, Chinese temple, Gian Gua relic… etc.

The boat tour allows you to learn more about the culture and people here, and also try many interesting activities such as making rice noodles, trying rice noodle pizzas, picking fruits at the orchards, etc. These destinations will make sure you have a memorable trip in Can Tho, the land of peace and hospitality.

Listen to amateur music on the river

The Mekong Delta is famous for many forms of arts, and one of them is amateur music. The artists usually perform amateur music on Can Tho River every weekend. This activity is hosted by the theater troupe of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Can Tho.

Each performance conveys different meanings and aspects of people’s daily lives in the Mekong Delta. Listening to the beautiful melodies, and enjoying the sound of water lapping both sides of the boat in the breeze will make you feel peaceful and relaxed.

Best Cai Rang floating market tours

Choosing reliable travel agency to book Cai Rang floating market is very important. SOHA Tourist is one of the best choices for you. Here are some recommended tours for you to consider:

• Can Tho floating market tour: 5:00 A:M – 8:00 A.M. Highlights: Cai Rang floating market – Small canal – Rice noodle factory (Rice noodle pizza)
• Phong Dien floating market tour: 04:00 A.M – 11:00 A.M. Highlights: Phong Dien floating market, Cai Rang floating market, small canals, rice noodle factory and tropical fruit garden.
• Cai Rang floating market tour and tropical fruit garden: 05:00 A.M – 10:00 A.M. Highlights: Can Tho floating market, rice noodle house, small canal, tropical orchard
• Can Tho tour full day: 5:00 A.M – 12:00 P.M (Cai Rang floating market – Small canal – Rice noodle house – Fruit garden – Cacao farm – Authentic lunch meal)
• Can Tho River Tour: 05:00 A.M – 11:00 A.M. Highlights: Can Tho floating market, rice noodle house, small canal, tropical fruit garden, cacao farm
• Can Tho floating market and cycling tour: 05:00 A.M – 11:00 A.M. Highlights: Can Tho floating market, rice noodle house, small canal, cacao farm
• Can Tho bike tour: 08:00 AM – 12:00 PM; 02:00 PM – 06:00 PM. Highlights: Rice noodle house – Local countryside villages – Small canals – Dragon fruit garden – Cacao farm

Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating_markets_of_Vietnam