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
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.
Packing the right items can make or break your trip. Here’s your checklist:
Essential items
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.
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!
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:
Other costs to consider include:
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.
Cai Rang Floating Market – Can Tho
Phong Dien Floating Market – Can Tho
Cai Be Floating Market – Tien Giang
Tra On Floating Market – Vinh Long
Nga Bay Floating Market – Hau Giang
Long Xuyen Floating Market – An Giang
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.
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:
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.
The Mekong Delta has a lot of tropical fruits:
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:
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:
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.
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.
What is included: Transfer, tour guide, hotel in Can Tho, lunch, entrance fee(s), boat trip in Cai Be
What is included: Transfer, tour guide, hotel breakfast, lunch, entrance fee(s), boat trip in Can Tho
| 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 |
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.
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!
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
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.
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
