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Travel Tips for Exploring the Mekong Delta Floating Markets 2024

When setting off to explore Mekong Delta Floating Markets, it does feel like stepping into a vivid watercolor, but even more alive. Every morning, the water lanes become busy as vendors offer fruits, vegetables, and all those goodies, making a picture both chaotic and lovely. If you are ready to plunge into this whirlwind of color and culture, it does seem only reasonable to arm you with some travel tips to help you master those thrilling hubs.

Tips for Exploring the Mekong Delta Floating Markets

Tips for Exploring the Mekong Delta Floating Markets

Tips for Exploring the Mekong Delta Floating Markets

Research and Plan Ahead

First things first, make sure to check the weather before you go exploring the Mekong Delta Floating Markets. Can Tho, referred to as the heart of the Mekong Delta, should be seen during the dry season, which lasts from December to April. This way, you won’t get rained out of your precious Mekong Delta boat rides. Additionally, knowing the local customs as well as schedules at the markets will enhance your experience and get you in tune with the local rhythm.

What to Bring

Packing the right items can make or break your trip. Here’s your checklist:

Essential items

  • Sunscreen: Because the sun gets pretty brutal out on the water)
  • A hat, a good amount of water, and cash: Try to carry small bills to pay for all the delicious fresh produce you’ll be craving,
  • Waterproof bags for your tech: You don’t want to go swimming with fish along with your phone.

Optional items: A camera to capture the vibrant scenes and a notebook for journaling your experiences. Because you’ll want to remember every quirky detail.

Booking and Negotiating Boat Rentals

Enjoy unique cuisine

Enjoy unique cuisine

When it comes to boat rentals, you should always do your homework. Make sure to get all the boat operators’ details and contact information and ensure they have properly maintained the boat. Also, agree on the details of the tour, including the duration and the attractions if any. Always agree on the prices beforehand, and avoid forking out a deposit without a clear receipt. It’s always nice to avoid surprises on this type of trip!

General Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Visit

  • Safety first: If you feel comfortable swimming, head to the park. In any other case, wear life jackets on boats. You are here for fun, not for an unintended swim.
  • Be cautious: Since you want to experience a big thrill, it is important to be cautious. Do not put your hand on the edge of the boat. It is highly tempting, but safety must come first.
  • Optimal visiting times: The optimal time for visiting is early in the morning, specifically between 5:00 – 6:00 AM. Yes, it is early, but it is worth it.
  • Price awareness: While purchasing various foods and souvenirs, be aware of the prices. A bit of bargaining is always expected, but do it with a smile.

Costs Associated with Visiting the Floating Markets

Boat Rental Prices

The price to pay for the boat rental depends much on how many people will set sail. Here is how much you might spend depending on your group size:

  • Solo travelers: About $1.5-2 per head if you decide to join the local group. Take your lone wolf nature to the water!
  • Small groups (up to 7 people): Around $21 per boat, for about 7 people. Fun for you and your kids or your friends.
  • Larger groups: Up to $36 or even more depending on the side of the boat. Great for your big reunion.

Additional Expenses

Other costs to consider include:

  • Food and drinks: Have a wonderful breakfast right on the boat – just check out the prices beforehand. As for further exploration of the place, there are many locations where you can enjoy a floating breakfast.
  • Souvenirs and local products:  Local staff and handcrafted and eco and sustainable souvenirs and products that you might want to purchase on the spot. As for the local produce, it is also very sought – so get some local economic support.
  • Tipping: It is always a nice idea to have some tips to give to the staff and the boat pilots. Even a little bit will contribute to a better mood.

Overview of the Mekong Delta Floating Markets

In contrast to Western, high-style, and orderly expanding, the Floating Markets at Mekong Delta look like a noisy and bustling amusement park with a special flavor attached to it. Not just markets, these are the country’s cultural and economic life hubs as well. Boats laden with fruits, vegetables, and fish, human whispers of buying and selling the products along with shouting of traders hovering over to make sales entertain people. In addition, a unique way of trading, cây bẹo, is recognized as its other particular feature. Its function, quite visible, is tied to the hanging of the goods to sell from the pole.

Top 6 Popular Floating Markets

Cai Rang Floating Market – Can Tho

Cai Rang Floating Market - Can Tho

Cai Rang Floating Market – Can Tho

  • Location: About 6 kilometers from the center of Can Tho City. It can be reached by a 30-minute boat ride from Ninh Kieu Wharf
  • Visiting Hours: from 6 AM to around 9 PM, although around 6 and 7 AM, it is the most bustling.
  • Unique Features: Cai Rang is the largest floating market in the Mekong Delta. They trade mostly in wholesale fruits and vegetables, from the Vinh Long pomelo, the Tien Giang ancient durian, the vegetables to Long Thanh rambutan, Cao Lanh mango, Hau Giang star apple, etc. Besides, there are dozens of boats selling breakfast and coffee or soft drinks.

Phong Dien Floating Market – Can Tho

Phong Dien Floating Market - Can Tho

Phong Dien Floating Market – Can Tho

  • Location: Located on Provincial Road 923, Nhon Loc Hamlet, Nhon Ai Commune, Phong Dien District, about 17 kilometers from the center of Can Tho City.
  • Visiting Hours: Operates from 4 AM to 8 AM.
  • Unique Features: Known for its authenticity and less crowded atmosphere, Phong Dien offers a mix of agricultural products and everyday items. This market is less commercialized, providing visitors with a more genuine experience of local trading culture.

Cai Be Floating Market – Tien Giang

Cai Be Floating Market - Tien Giang

Cai Be Floating Market – Tien Giang

  • Location: It is located on Provincial Road 923, Nhon Loc Hamlet, Nhon Ai Commune, Phong Dien District, about 17 kilometers from the center of Can Tho City.
  • Visiting Hours: Starts as early as 2 AM and winds down by 8 AM.
  • Unique Features: It is one of the most authentic float markets. Many activities usually found in the markets of the Delta can be here, for example, daily tools, small canoes, and baskets bought and sold on the boats. The atmosphere is less busy, less commercial, and less lively.

Tra On Floating Market – Vinh Long

Tra On Floating Market - Vinh Long

Tra On Floating Market – Vinh Long

  • Location: At the end of the Hau River, between the Hau and Mang Thit Rivers
  • Visiting Hours: Best time in the early morning
  • Unique Features: Unlike other well-known markets, this is less touristy and remains tranquil and authentic to locals. The market is the major site of wholesale of agricultural products, such as sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and citrus fruits. The bún bò viên, or traditional beef ball in noodle soup, could also not be missed

Nga Bay Floating Market – Hau Giang

Nga Bay Floating Market - Hau Giang

Nga Bay Floating Market – Hau Giang

  • Location: Also known as Phung Hiep Floating Market, it is located at the confluence of seven rivers, about 75 kilometers from the center of the province of Hau Giang and 35 kilometers from the city of Can Tho
  • Visiting Hours: From early morning until 8 AM
  • Unique Features: Nga Bay provides a wide range of goods to choose from, and visitors can expect special fruits and old-style crafts. The market is especially known for selling ridiculous products that cannot be found in any other place, including snakes, turtles, and other wildlife. Furthermore, extraordinary dishes by small boats, such as phở and hot pancake, not only serve the palate but also liven the shopping mood.

Long Xuyen Floating Market – An Giang

Long Xuyen Floating Market - An Giang

Long Xuyen Floating Market – An Giang

  • Location: On the Hau River, within the precincts of My Phuoc Ward, Long Xuyen City
  • Visiting Hours: Most active in the early morning.
  • Unique Features: This market has hardly been affected by commercialization. Uncompressed, the Long Xuen Floating Market puts on a rustic appearance. The market is almost exclusively floating, so only by boat can be observed. Moreover, it mainly trades commercially in all commodities produced around the Delta, which are vegetables and fruit. Popular choices of the floating market include various kinds of squash, cabbage, and all different greens grown in delta water. The food, such as bún cá and bánh t?m bì are considered unique and attractable. In addition, commercial transactions are completely from boats to boats which create a simple and friendly River Market.

Must-Try Experiences and Local Delicacies

When you go to the Mekong Delta Floating Markets, you not only see a beautiful sight of trade happening on the river but also take part in unique local experiences and enjoy authentic food. Here is the exhaustive list of all experiences and meals one should try.

Experiences to Try

Witness the Sunrise Over the Mekong

Wake up early and see the sunrise over one of the biggest rivers in Asia. It is one of the most serene experiences you may have, and it automatically sets a positive tone for the day. The best way to see the sunrise is from a boat that needs to be taken from Ninh Kieu Wharf at around 5.30 a.m. The light is beautiful and gentle at this time and makes the markets seem even more photogenic, illuminating them with a red reflection in the water.

Breakfast on a Boat

One of the most rewarding experiences of the floating markets in the Mekong Delta is having breakfast on one of the boats. Many of them float with delicious traditional Vietnamese foods. The most popular meals to have for breakfast are: 

  • Bún riêu: A crab noodle soup that is both sour and savory; 
  • Hủ tiếu: A rice noodle soup, which may be served with shrimp, pork, and plenty of herbs; 
  • Bún mắm: A salty, fermented fish noodle soup, different from other soups due to its distinctive broth. 

Having them on a boat makes them a highly unique food experience floating on the river and slowly moving down it.

Interact with Local Traders and Residents

One of the most rewarding parts of the visit is interacting with the traders and residents at the markets. Many of them are a continuation of the families that have been trading on the river for several generations. Ask them about the history of the market, the goods they sell, and their everyday experiences. This enriches your knowledge of different cultures in general and supports the local economy in particular. Take care to be gentle when you take photos or talk to people.

Check-in at a Pineapple Boat

After breakfast, check in on one of the popular pineapple boats. Pineapples are stacked here in large numbers, making the whole boat look beautiful and almost monochromatic. You can take some photos to remember the experience, and you can also get a freshly cut pineapple to satisfy your cravings.

Local Delicacies to Savor

The Mekong Delta has a lot of tropical fruits:

  • Dragon fruit: It is known for its bright pink skin and its white or pink spots in the flesh.
  • Mangosteen: it is called the “queen of fruits”, it is known for being sweet and sour.
  • Durian: If you do like to experiment you should try this, it has an acquired taste, it smells disgusting but the meat of the fruit is like a cream.

Special Souvenirs to Purchase

Fresh Fruits and Vegetables

Buy some fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables to take home. They make great snacks or a healthy gift. Most recommended:

  • Longans and lychees
  • Pomelos and oranges
  • Fresh herbs and vegetables

Handcrafted Items

Purchase some handcrafted items to help the local artisans. They reflect the heritage of the culture and the skills of the region. The most recommended:

  • Traditional conical hats (nón lá)
  • Handwoven baskets and mats
  • Wooden carvings and pottery

Conclusion

For your adventure Exploring the Mekong Delta Floating Markets, follow these tips and insights to make it both memorable and respectful. Immerse in this unique cultural experience, enjoy your journey with Mekong Tours to the fullest; and make unforgettable memories. Bon voyage! Don’t forget to regularly follow our Fanpage for more interesting information about traveling Mekong to and to book Mekong Tours at the best prices.

Mekong Tours 2 days 1 night with IMPRESS TRAVEL

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The Mekong River, the ‘Mother of Waters’, is the heart and soul of mainland South-East Asia. Millions of people depend on its waters. It’s a way of life, a home for the spirits, the defining element in the everlasting battle for survival, and the foundation and boundaries of cultures and kingdoms across eons. The river speaks of the past and the future, of the eternally recurring cycles of nature, of the people living upstream and downstream, of survival, beauty and danger.

Foreigners can’t appreciate the role of the river in the lives of those who live in the Mekong basin. It influences every aspect of their daily existence, shaping not only the land, but also the people themselves.

The Mekong Basin extends over 795,000km2. More than 70 million people, 55 million of which inhabit the watershed area lying within Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam, depend on the river and its tributaries for food, water and transport. At 4,350km, the Mekong is the longest river in Southeast Asia and the 12th longest in the world.

The river runs from its source deep in China’s Tsinghai Province through the eastern part of Tibet. From Yunnan province, it becomes the border between Myanmar and Laos, and between Laos and Thailand. From there it surges across Cambodia to Phnom Penh, where the Bassac River branches off. The two rivers continue to divide into nine outlets, the Cuu Long (Nine Dragons) of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, and finally discharge into the East Sea. The river is navigable from the delta to Southern Laos, where massive waterfalls near the Cambodian border prevent boats from travelling further.

About nine-tenths of the people in the Lower Mekong Basin are engaged in agriculture, mostly rice production on a massive scale, for which irrigation from the Mekong River is essential. A substantial proportion is exported, thus providing the staple diet of a far greater number than just those living in the area.

The Mekong River is also very rich in fish, the single most important source of animal protein in the diet of people living in the Lower Mekong Basin.

Tours Itinerary

Day 01

HO CHI MINH CITY TO CAN THO HOTEL (L)

  • Impress Travel’s Mekong Tours Team will pick you up at the hotel, then leaving Ho Chi Minh City at 8.00 AM
  • We need 2 hour driving to Cai Be, We emerge the beautiful scenery of the countryside in the Mekong river delta of Vietnam.
    Visit Cai Be floating market by Sampan that is the well-known floating market in Mekong delta ( Note: the market today is not as busy as in past times)
  • To enjoy the traditional music & performance show – Dai Ca Tai Tu that was recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of the world, we enjoy the Mekong’s fresh fruits while watching the show.
  • Ride a rowing boat via the water coconut canals.
  • Do a biking tour through the rural villages to Mr. Sau Ca Family’s orchard
  • Enjoy local lunch with Mr. Sau Ca family
    Relax before getting on a Sampan to Vinh Long the car/ van will pick you up to drive to Can Tho city ( One hour driving to Can Tho)
  • Arrival in Can Tho then checks in the hotel, free time to explore Can Tho city at night.
  • The tour guide will recommend you the best place for dinner in Can Tho city.

What is included: Transfer, tour guide, hotel in Can Tho, lunch, entrance fee(s), boat trip in Cai Be

Day 02

Cai Rang floating market – Khmer Pagoda – Lunch – Ho Chi Minh City (B,L)

  • Good morning Mekong Delta with quiet and fresh air,
  • Enjoy buffet breakfast at hotel and morning tea break before leaving by Sampan to visit Cai Rang Floating market.
  • Ride a bicycle through the countryside to Khmer Pagoda & local farms.
  • Have a lunch and tea break
  • Mekong Tours – Impress Travel Team will bring you back to Ho Chi Minh City (3.5-hour driving)

What is included: Transfer, tour guide, hotel breakfast, lunch, entrance fee(s), boat trip in Can Tho

What’s included in this trip:

  • Accommodation based on Twin/Double sharing room, ( notice: a single room is surcharged following single supplement policy/ all room night including daily hotel breakfast.
  • All the meals as mentioned in the detailed itinerary
  • Entrance Fee to visit attractive places are mentioned as itinerary
  • Private Car/Van/Bus with air-conditioned and good experienced driver.
  • Boat trip in My Tho, Cai Be
  • Experienced English speaking tour guides as specified ( French-speaking guide/ Chinese speaking guide are available on request )
  • Complimentary drink water and Tissue on Van/Bus/Van as mentioned on itinerary


  • What’s excluded in this trip:

  • International Ticket Fare with insurance surcharge and Fuel surcharge
  • Arport tax.
  • Visa Fees & Travels insurance
  • Porter Charges & Camera Fees.
  • Meals (Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner) do not mentioned as in this itinerary
  • Tipping for Tour guides, Bus driver, Crew
  • Other personal expenses such as beverages, telephone calls, laundry services, Minibar, etc….
  • Other services are not specifically mentioned in the tour Itinerary and the above Inclusion

 
Hotels in Can Tho
Star Hotel Room Type
3-Star hotel in Can Tho Hau Giang Hotel Superior
4-Star hotel in Can Tho Muong Thanh Hotel Superior
5-Star hotel in Can Tho Victoria Hotel Superior

Mekong Delta Travel Map

Ranana

You feel like organized tour, but you are in a privet tour. Impress Travel make the different.

We went on a private trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, the whole trip plan was organized for us by the Impress Travel Company from Vietnam, the company did an amazing job, the whole trip was organized in a wonderful way with an amazing match between the various parties, their choices were correct and the quality of the hotels chosen were very high quality and it is important to note that the price was low in comparison To other agencies, thanks to Impress Travel and especially to Daniel who was tolerant and open to changes and organized the route for us.

Ebrahim

Tour of Vietnam

Impress travel were amazing. Did my bookings with Daniel for our tour of Vietnam and I must say Daniel was very professional and prompt with his services. All the arrangement, plans, pick-up & drop-off services, hotels, vehicles, sightseeing tours and guides were spot on and excellent. Did 4 nights Hanoi, 1 night Hà Long Bay cruise, 3 nights Hoian, 4 nights Saigon and 1 night in Can Tho. It was totally awesome. Every part of the journey was superbly arranged and planned. I will highly recommend Impress Travel for anyone interested in visiting Vietnam. Very organized and reliable!

Solly Pochee

The tour was fantastic

I booked with Impress Travel in July. My contact person was Tommy Thang. He is an amazing person. He was very helpful. He changed my program twice for me. Very accommodating!
We started our holiday in the north (Sapa)of Vietnam and travelled down to HCMC.
The tour was fantastic, Tommy's arrangements were to the"T".
I will always use them if I have to visit the area again and recommend them to one and all.
Thank you once again Mr.Tommy and the Impress Team.
Sulaiman Pochee

Bernard Lim

Great value for money with 4 stars hotel

Great value for money with 4 stars hotel accommodation for 4 couples. The tour guide has been very helpful and brought us to amazing places in Sapa. We want to thanks Thuy the tour guide and especially Mark from Impress Travel for his great service and assurance throughout our trip. We’ll definitely use his service for other tour packages in other parts of Vietnam.

Derek.Schooling

We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel

This is the second time we travel to Vietnam with IMPRESS Travel. First time, we booked our holiday to Hanoi, Halong Bay & Sapa during Dec 2018 with Impress.
Second time, we travel to Hoi An, Hue & Danang (Central Vietnam) during Jan 2019.

My friends & I are very glad & happy with all the hotels stay in Central Vietnam, the meals provided are delicious. We are greatly appreciated with all the tour arrangement by Tommy & his team (tour guide).
Especially, Mr. NHAT C.V. He is helpful, cheerful, knowledgeable and very professional. He always volunteer to take a nice pictures for six of us (group) .

We enjoyed our holiday with Impress travel. We will definitely come back to Vietnam again with Impress

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