Local Life on Mekong Tours: What to Eat & Experience at Ca Mau Market

Arrive Like a Local: How to Get to Ca Mau Market

From Ca Mau City Center (About 4 km Away)

Ca Mau Market is located on Ward 8, Ca Mau City, only 200 meters away from Ganh Hao Bridge. It’s the throbbing center of the local river economy, and it’s incredibly simple to reach from anywhere in town.

By taxi:  Trusted taxi services include:

• Mai Linh Taxi: 0290 3838 383
• Sun Taxi: 0290 3777 999
•  Fare ranges from 50,000 to 80,000 VND. Travel time is approximately 10 to 15 minutes.

Mai Linh Taxi (Source: nld)

By motorbike or Xe Om:  Motorbike taxis are found everywhere in the city or through mobile apps such as Grab. An immediate and cheap option at approximately 20,000 to 30,000 VND.

By boat (for adventurous travelers):  If you’re living near the river, take a small local boat to go directly to Cho Ca Mau. The price is negotiable, around 50,000 to 100,000 VND, depending on where you begin.

From Ho Chi Minh City to Ca Mau

The two main forms of transport to the Ca Mau Market from Ho Chi Minh City are flying or a sleeper bus.

By air: Vietnam Airlines operates Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday flights from Tan Son Nhat Airport (SGN) to Ca Mau Airport (VCA).

• Duration: About 60 minutes
• Booking site: www.vietnamairlines.com
• From Ca Mau Airport to the market: 6 km trip, 20 minutes by taxi (70,000–90,000 VND).

By sleeper bus: Numerous good companies are operating daily trips from Ho Chi Minh City to Ca Mau. Some of the recommended ones are:

Phuong Trang (Futa Bus Lines)

• Webpage: futabus.vn
• Booking hotline: 1900 6067
• Departure: From Mien Tay Bus Terminal or Mien Dong Bus Terminal
• Frequency: Every hour during the afternoon till evening
• Price: 200,000–220,000 VND
• Duration: 8 to 10 hours

Thanh Buoi Bus

• Address: 419 Le Hong Phong, District 10
• Booking hotline: 028 3838 3183
• Price: 210,000 VND
• Duration: 9 to 10 hours

Mai Linh Express

• Booking hotline: 028 3929 2929
• There are buses at both Mien Tay and Mien Dong stations
• Price: 190,000 VND
• Time: 9 to 10 hours

Mai Linh Express (Source: Tadiha)

By taxi or motorbike from Ca Mau Bus Station to Ca Mau Market in 10–15 minutes.

From Can Tho City

By bus: If you’re seeing more of the Mekong on your way to Ca Mau, Vietnam, Can Tho is a natural detour. Ca Mau is about 140 km from Can Tho, and there are a number of bus lines that make the journey daily.

• Phuong Trang (Futa): departs Can Tho Bus Station daily
• Tuan Hung Bus: 02923 833 833
• Price: 140,000–180,000 VND
• Travel Time: 4 to 5 hours
• A Taxi or Xe Om will collect you in the City and bring you to the Ca Mau Market on arrival

Phuong Trang Bus (Source: dantri)

The Market Awakens: Early Morning River Life

If you want to truly experience Ca Mau Market, you need to be there early — and we mean early!

When Does the Market Start?

• Opening hours: From 2:00 AM, peak time at 4:00–6:00 AM
• Address: An Duong Vuong Street, Ward 8, opposite Ganh Hao Bridge, downtown Ca Mau, Vietnam
• This is when the market comes alive: boats line up, lanterns sway, and the river buzzes with activity.

What Will You See and Hear?

• Scores of fruit, veggie, seafood, and home goods-loaded boats
• Bargaining, laughter, and paddles splashing water
• Breakfast preparation right on the boats — this is true Ca Mau food market

If you are a photographer, this is also the best time to capture nice Ca Mau food market pictures — colorful boats, a misty morning, and a golden sunrise reflection on water.

Unique Local Feature: The “Cay beo”

• A tall pole of bamboo at the head of each boat
• At the top: a display of what is offered for sale (banana, pineapple, chili, etc.)
• No shouting. No billboards. Just a silent promotion — a phenomenon found only in river markets like Cho Ca Mau

Life on the Water

• Most vendors live on the boat: cooking, sleeping, and raising children
• After the market closes late in the morning, the boats are temporary houses
• This ain’t trade — this is everyday life on the river in Ca Mau, Vietnam

What to Eat Like a Local: Best Dishes at Ca Mau Market

Hot Noodle Dishes Cooked on the Boat

Start your day with a hot bowl, made to order on floating kitchens at Cho Ca Mau:

• Hu tieu: Thin rice noodles in savory pork broth
  Price: 20,000–30,000 VND
• Banh canh: Thick noodles, often with crab or pork
  Price: 25,000–35,000 VND
• Bun rieu: Crab noodle soup with tomato, tofu, and fresh herbs
  Price: 25,000–40,000 VND

They are prepared fresh onboard small boats, hot and quick. Consuming them while afloat is part of the Ca Mau food market experience.

Hu Tieu at Ca Mau Market (Source: eva)

Tropical Fruits – Fresh and Juicy

You can’t visit Ca Mau Market without trying out its garden-fresh fruits. Depending on the season, you’ll have:

• Rambutan, mango, pineapple, guava, papaya
• Water coconut, star apple, longan

Street vendors usually peel and chop up the fruit for you, ready to eat or pull out.

Price: 15,000–30,000 VND per kilo  (Prices are a bit variable with the time of year and degree of freshness.)

Tropical Fruits (Source: vietgoing)

Local Snacks & Traditional Cakes

Got a sweet tooth or something snack-sized? Try to track down:

• Che  (sweet bean pudding):
  Price: 10,000–15,000 VND per cup
• Banh da lon (layered steamed cake):
  Price: 5,000–10,000 VND per slice
• Banh tet (sticky rice cake):
  Price: 20,000–30,000 VND per roll
• Banh xeo (crispy pancake):
  Price: 20,000–35,000 VND per portion

Every dish is the personal culinary character of Ca Mau, Vietnam, with home-cooking taste but Mekong Delta warmth.

Banh xeo at Ca Mau Market (Source: digifood)

Coffee with a View – On the Boat!

• Vietnamese drip coffee or iced milk coffee
  Price: 10,000–15,000 VND

Coffee with a View (Source: sundaygo)

More Than One Market: Ca Mau’s Hidden Market Scenes

 The Leaf Market – Trade Leaves, Not Money

• Address: Monivongsa Bopharam Pagoda, 65 Phan Ngoc Hien Street, Ward 1, Ca Mau City
• Date: Only once a year — on the 24th day of the 7th lunar month

Why is this market so unique? Instead of money, individuals trade leaves to barter for food, herbs, water, and sweets. This ritual holds a deep Buddhist significance: “Wealth is temporary. Compassion is eternal."

Local monks and traders join forces in this peculiar Cho Ca Mau activity — it’s humbling, heartwarming, and highly photogenic.

The Leaf Market (Source: ivivu)

Ca Mau Night Market – Street Food Under the Stars

• Address: Nguyen Ngoc Sanh Street, right behind Ca Mau Square, Ward 7, Ca Mau City
• Hours: 5:00 PM – 12:00 AM, every evening

This vibrant section of the  Ca Mau food market transforms into a neon-lit street party. Sizzling barbecues, noodle stalls, and coconut treats await. What to snack on?

• River prawn grilled, octopus sticks
• Sticky mango rice, che, fresh spring rolls
• Banh xeo, banh trang nuong, Vietnamese crepes
• Street coffee and smoothies from a mere 10,000–15,000 VND

Ca Mau Night Market (Source: PageCaMau)

Port Market & Ward 2 Market – Daily Life, No Filters

• Ward 2 Market: Ly Thuong Kiet Street, Ward 2, Ca Mau City
  
• Port Market (Cho Cang): An Duong Vuong Street, Ward 8, near Ganh Hao River
• Want to see locals shopping? These two daytime markets are full of:
• Dried seafood (muc, kho ca loc, shrimp) – perfect for giving!
• Household goods, fishing gear, cookware
• Quick eats for under 25,000 VND – perfect for a local-style lunch
• Ca Mau clothing market stalls selling ao ba ba, pajamas, conical hats, and rain suits

Ward 2 Market (Source: nguoidothi)

What to Buy and How to Bargain Like a Local

What to Buy at Ca Mau Market

If you’re looking for presents or sweets from Ca Mau, Vietnam, here’s what you shouldn’t miss:

• Fresh tropical fruits: mango, guava, pineapple, rambutan — all picked from adjacent orchards.
• Expect 15,000-30,000 VND/kg prices. Sellers typically let you taste first before buying!
• Dried seafood: shrimp, squid, fish — well-preserved, easy to carry, and tasty.
• Located at Ward 2 and Ward 8, Port Market. Prices are between 50,000-150,000 VND, depending on weight and type.
• Local snacks: Try Banh tet, Banh da lon, or Che to bring home a sweet memory of the Ca Mau food market charm.
• Clothing and crafts: From light ao ba ba to practical raincoats, the Ca Mau clothing market provides local wear. They are thoughtful, affordable souvenirs.
• For Instagram-worthy souvenirs? Scan for colorful combinations and river-life backdrops perfect for your Ca Mau food market photos album.
  

How to Bargain (Without Losing the Smile)

In Cho Ca Mau, bargaining is not a test of who can be the most aggressive or the most angry; it’s a verbal and smiling dance.

Tips to bargain like a local:

• Ask for the price first. And then, softly, say: “Gia mem hon chut duoc khong?” (Can it be a little cheaper?)
• Smile. People here prefer smiles to snappy comments.
• Buy more than one item — you can often negotiate a deal.
• Give props to the laborers selling on the river. Some of them live on their boats and get up at 2 in the morning to take your order!

Safety Tips for Money and Belongings

It is safe, but never let your valuables out of your hands. Here is how to be smart while drifting around the Ca Mau Market:

• Carry small bills (10,000–50,000 VND). Avoid flashing big notes.
• Keep money and electronics in a waterproof bag.
• Carry valuables (phones, cameras) on a strap or in a secure bag — the boats can bounce!
• If you’re shooting Ca Mau food market photos, make sure you ask vendors, as you’ll find they smile and pose for you with pride!

Conclusion

Ca Mau Market is not only the boats and bargains,  but the pulse of Ca Mau Vietnam. From swapping jokes with the friendly vendors to slurping down hot noodles on the river’s edge, every minute at Cho Ca Mau gets you closer to the pulse of the Mekong. Get there early, eat well, and take the colors of the Ca Mau market and smiles from the locals away with you.