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

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
This market was voted to be one of the 10 most impressive markets in the world by British travel magazine Rough Guide.

The Overview of the Cai Rang Floating Market

The market happens on the Can Tho River, near the Cai Rang bridge, about 7 km from the city center of Can Tho. Cai Rang floating market is unique because people buy and sell vegetables and fruit on the river. People here are very friendly and hospitable.
Cai Rang Floating Market
People mainly sell local products such as vegetables, fruits, food, and others.
People here mainly transport products by boat. Many traders live on the boats, and these have enough amenities like houses on the river. They also use a special way to promote their products. Cantho’s people try to preserve and promote its culture through tourist activities.
Cai Rang Floating Market
The scene of the boat with colorful tropical fruit captivates lots of visitors

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Traveling by boat or ship to the floating market is a great experience

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Because this is a wholesale market, it opens very early in the morning.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
The boat will head to the Cai Rang Bridge where the market takes place.

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

Cai Rang Floating Market
There are many boats at An Binh market for tourists to rent

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
The market opens at an intersection so people can buy and sell things easily (Photo: Duy Khuong)

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
The scene of the Cai Rang floating market in the past

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
People here not only sell vegetables and fruit but also food and drink.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
This destination attracts domestic and international tourists.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Owners can attract customers’ attention by hanging the products in their vision.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Many people are impressed with this way of advertising.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Boats selling food and drinks won’t use bamboo poles.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
People are living on the boat to earn their living.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Enjoying breakfast on the boat is a new experience for many tourists.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market - a pink boat
The pink boat selling breakfast attracts many visitors (Photo: Duy Tan)

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Traveling by boat, tourists can enjoy the whole view of the sunrise

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market-visit conson islet
Con Son islet offers community tourism with many interesting activities

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.

Rice noodle factory in Can Tho
You can make our rice noodles at the rice noodle factories.

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Amateur musical performances reflect the culture and lifestyle of people in the Mekong Delta

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.

Cai Rang Floating Market
Traders also sell flowers for the upcoming holiday – Tet

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:

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

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