Vietnamese floating markets and picturesque canals are two of Can Tho's most well-known features. When visiting this city, a visit to a Cai Rang floating market is a must-do activity for everybody visiting. A glimpse of real life here can be had by taking an early morning boat ride and immersing yourself in the hectic commercial activity.
About Cai Rang Floating Market Can Tho
Floating market Cai Rang
Cai Rang Floating Market is located downstream of Can Tho River, 46 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City.
What about the history of the Cai Rang floating market? One of the oldest cultural sites in the Mekong Delta is the Cai Rang Floating Market (also known as Cái Răng Floating Market), which has been operating for nearly a century. Before streets and automobiles were developed, the Mekong Delta Floating Market was established to satisfy the people's need for trading and exchanging products. The road traffic networks are very advanced now, but the floating market is still there and continues to grow.
Travelers are drawn to the Cai Rang floating market more and more because of the abundance of goods that are sold from a fleet of colorful boats. It's a lively place where traders congregate early in the morning to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, handicrafts, and everyday household necessities to resell elsewhere. Cai Rang floating market opening hours are around 5:00 AM - 9:00 AM, but between 5:30 and 6:30 in the morning, when a lot of boats choke the waterway, it is the busiest time of day.
How to get to Cai Rang Floating Market Vietnam?
Cai Rang Market may be accessed by two primary routes:
- Go to Cai Rang Floating Market by yourself: Going to Cai Rang Market by yourself is a good alternative if you want to satiate your wanderlust on your own. To go to this location, you must first arrange a local or international flight if you are not already in Ho Chi Minh City. Next, take a taxi to Ninh Kieu Wharf, where you can buy a boat ticket to Cai Rang for two to four dollars per person. If you go with a group, the cost will be less.
Cai Rang floating market tour from Can Tho
- Book a Cai Rang Floating Market tour: Today, purchasing a tour to Cai Rang Market is quite simple because there are a lot of travel companies that offer Mekong Delta tours, with prices ranging from $30 to $200. To choose the tour that most closely matches your schedule, you should, however, thoroughly review the itinerary before making a reservation.
The best time to visit Cai Rang Floating Market
Mekong Delta Cai Rang floating market
Weather in Can Tho
The rainy season (May to November) and the dry season (December to April) are the only two main seasons in the South of Vietnam, as opposed to the four distinct seasons in the Northern half of the country. You may visit Cai Rang at any time of year due to the warm climate in Vietnam. Naturally, every season offers a unique experience.
Traveling during the rainy season will be considerably more leisurely because of the milder weather, and since the harvest season occurs during the dry months, there will be a greater variety of locally grown fruits and agricultural goods to choose from.
The best time to visit
Ninh Kieu Wharf - Can Tho Market - Cai Rang Floating Market
Local vendors bring their goods to market and agricultural items when it's still dark. Additionally, when the weather is still cool, the purchasers like to shop early and return home to resume their regular schedules. You should rise early to take advantage of the market's most thrilling time. The best time to buy and sell is between 5 and 7 a.m. when hundreds of boats congregate to transact business. The bamboo pole known as "Cay Beo," which is between three and five meters long, is arguably the most recognizable aspect of the floating market. When all the products they offer are hanging on top, making them visible to potential customers from a distance, this is a creative method to market.
Lunar holidays, such as the first and second days of the first lunar month and the fifth day of the fifth lunar month known as Doan Ngo Festival, are when the Cai Rang Floating Market is closed.
What to see at Cai Rang Floating Market Can Tho Vietnam
Cai Rang Floating Market, one of the most well-known floating markets in the Mekong Delta, provides tourists with a genuine look into Vietnam's river-based economy and culture. Travelers wishing to feel the lively spirit of life on the Mekong River, where traditional boats stand in for shopfronts and business is conducted in a unique setting, should check out this early morning market.
The bustling trading scene
The bustling trading scene
The Cai Rang Floating Market specializes in serving as a wholesale marketplace for fruits and other local agricultural goods. Here, goods are concentrated in great quantities. Witness the deft maneuvers of fruit vendors as they move from boat to boat. To see what they are selling, look at what is fastened to the tall pole above the boat. While large boats are owned by traders and are used to transport fruit to all locations, locals and others in the vicinity frequently use canoes and middle-sized boats to transport agricultural items for consumption here.
Daily life of the locals
Immersed in the vibrant ambiance of the unique market, you may watch and discover the way of life of numerous multigenerational families residing aboard boats. On the river are "mobile apartments" in the form of boats, complete with flower pots, pets, and a full interior complete with a TV, DVD, audio, and a motorcycle parked on the vessel. The family of the traders resides there, in addition to using it as a vehicle for delivery and purchases. Everyday operations are conducted on boats.
Local products
Local products
Cai Rang is home to one of the Mekong Delta's principal trading hubs, where residents purchase and sell a variety of goods for everyday use. In addition to necessities, this is a well-known place to discover competitively priced local goods. Freshest fruits, such durian, milk fruit, rambutan, mangosteen, grapefruit, etc., picked from surrounding fields are available, along with other processed specialties like dried fish, fish sauce, and coconut candies. Later in the day, you can pick from an assortment of fresh fruit for a picnic!
Best things to do at Cai Rang Floating Market Can Tho
Finding the fascinating trading strategy
The screams of the vendors at this busy floating market seem to be drowned out by the size of the river and the sound of the boat motors. Due to the unfavorable circumstances, a novel form of advertising seems to have emerged, in which vendors display their goods from the top of a tall pole that is fastened to their boats.
From a distance, purchasers can see the goods sold on that boat since each boat has a tall upright pole with samples of the goods hung on it. This eliminates the need for merchants to shout out what they are selling. One only needs to look up to determine precisely which boat is offering the goods they want.
Along with shopping, boaters may discover the lifestyle along the waterways, passing by homes perched above the water and a variety of colorful, well-built boats docked along the beach.
Trying local food and drinks
Trying local food and drinks
You will have the opportunity to sample the freshest fruits picked from surrounding farms, such as durian, milk fruit, rambutan, mangosteen, grapefruit, etc., in addition to witnessing how people trade goods on the Cai Rang Floating Market. You can also sample other processed specialties like dried fish, coconut candy, and fish sauce. There are also a lot of regional specialties to choose from, like "com tam" (broken rice with grilled pig and egg), "pho," "hu tieu," and "bun rieu"—some varieties of noodles topped with beef, pork, and crab. You might have a substantial supper and easily satisfy your tummy for about 25,000 VND (around $1 USD).
Enjoying Southern Vietnamese folk music (Đờn ca tài tử)
Enjoying Southern Vietnamese folk music
One of the most anticipated activities in the Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho is the boat performance of "đờn ca tài tử" (Southern Vietnamese folk music) every weekend (Saturday and Sunday). It is said that Đờn ca tài tử reflects the way of life of Southerners who work and reside in the Mekong Delta. Its song, which has become more and more well-liked by both domestic and foreign tourists, helps the locals convey all moods and emotions as well as their own diligence, generosity, and courage.
Visiting additional well-known tourist locations close to Cai Rang
Although the Cai Rang Floating Market is stunning in and of itself, it would be ideal if you could take some time to explore the many interesting locations around, like:
- The largest and most well-known orchard farm in Can Tho, Ba Cong orchard garden spans two hectares and provides fruits to Mekong Delta marketplaces and wholesalers.
- Rice noodle factory in Can Tho: Here, guests can sample crispy "rice noodle pizza," learn how to prepare traditional rice noodles, and enjoy the rustic ambiance of Can Tho.
- The complete process of making a little bar of sticky coconut candy may be seen by visitors to the coconut candy factory in Cai Rang.
The best advice for traveling to Cai Rang Floating Market Vietnam
An amazing experience at Cai Rang Market
To ensure an amazing experience at Cai Rang Market, keep the following in mind:
- In order to protect yourself from the intense heat of the sun throughout the day, pack a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
- Since most sellers prefer to transact via cash, bring VND currency rather than credit cards.
- Get to Cai Rang early to take in the sunrise and eat the freshest possible food.
- To avoid the throng and have the best experience at Cai Rang Market, use a native fishing boat.
- Make reservations for your lodging.
- Be careful to arrive early. The cuisine is freshest and the sunrise from the boat is amazing. The market is emerging from its hibernation.
- You only need to stand in front of the poles set up in front of the boat and see what things they are selling. The vendors will dangle an example of their goods from these poles.
Although Cai Rang Floating Market is undoubtedly a must-visit location with fascinating things to do, many international visitors may find it difficult to get there and fully immerse themselves in the actual floating market experience. With a branch office in Hanoi, Sinhcafe arranged visits to the Mekong Delta, which has the biggest floating market in Vietnam, daily. Get the greatest assistance for your tours by contacting our travel advisors!