Moreover, this is also an attractive tourist destination for visitors from all over the world. Watching the sunrise over the bustling market, enjoying unique cuisine. And listening to the soulful art of “dan ca tai tu” in the middle of the immense river are unforgettable experiences. For those who love this rich land of Tay Do, let’s explore this unique floating market with Origin Vietnam.
1. Where Is The Cai Rang Floating Market?
Cai Rang floating market is located on the Can Tho river, at 46 Hai Ba Trung street, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city, Vietnam.
Cai Rang Floating Market Can Tho is located at:
- Ninh Kieu Wharf: about 30 minutes by boat, to the Southwest.
- Can Tho City Center: about 6 km to the Southwest.
- Ho Chi Minh City: about 170 km to the Southwest.
2. How Is Cai Rang Floating Market Unique?
Cai Rang Floating Market Can Tho was formed in the 20th century, focusing on trading agricultural products, fruits, and specialties of the Southwest region. In the past, this market was the largest rice purchasing granary in the Mekong Delta of the Chinese.
Cai Rang Floating Market Can Tho is located on a branch of the Hau River flowing through Cai Rang District. This location is convenient for trade and commerce with neighboring provinces and the entire Mekong Delta. Thanks to that, Cai Rang Floating Market has become the largest and busiest market in the West.
Every day, hundreds of boats gather on the traffic route to the provinces west of the Hau River such as Ca Mau – Rach Gia. Goods at Cai Rang floating market are very diverse, from tropical fruits, handicrafts, household items to food and beverage areas.
Today, although the road traffic network has developed, the Cai Rang floating market still exists and maintains the characteristics of the river delta. The cultural space at Cai Rang floating market and the precious heritage of Don Ca Tai Tu are still preserved and passed down through many generations.
The attraction of this place for tourists is not only the interesting experiences when shopping and enjoying food on boats, but also the freshness of the goods. But also the simple and honest character of the people of Tay Do. That is why this unique floating market was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2016.
3. When Is The Best Time To Visit The Cai Rang Floating Market?
The climate in this floating market area is similar to the climate in Can Tho, with two main seasons: rainy season and sunny season. The market is open all year round, so you can visit Cai Rang market at any time of the year.
However, the dry season from May to August, when the river has a stable water level and little rain, is the ideal time to visit Cai Rang floating market. This is also the fruit season in the West, where you can enjoy many types of fresh, ripe fruits at affordable prices.
*Please note that the market will be closed or operate very little on Lunar New Year (the 1st and 2nd day of Tet) and Doan Ngo Festival (the 5th day of the 5th lunar month).
In particular, Cai Rang floating market opens at 5:00 am, is busiest at 7:00 am – 8:00 am, and gradually winds down from 9:00 am.
You should arrange your time to arrive at the market between 6:00 am and 8:00 am to watch the sunrise and experience the vibrant atmosphere of the floating market in the morning with hundreds of boats from all over. Small boats will serve breakfast, coffee, and fruit.
4. History Of Cai Rang Floating Market
Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho has the common characteristics of floating markets in the West, which is located right at the intersection of three rivers, between the Cai Rang and Hau River branches. This location has a water level that is neither deep or shallow, making it easy for boats to anchor and move. This place is also near a market on the shore and a large fruit orchard.
In the past, Cai Rang Market mainly sold agricultural products and each boat specialized in selling only one type of product. However, the market now sells more diverse products such as food, household items and essentials for life on the river.
5. How To Get To Cai Rang Floating Market From Can Tho City?
To get to Cai Rang Floating Market, you can refer to some of the following ways:
5.1 Traveling to Cai Rang Floating Market from Ninh Kieu Wharf
From the center of Can Tho city, go to Ninh Kieu Wharf to take a boat to Cai Rang Floating Market. Ninh Kieu Wharf is about 7.5km from the city center. You can choose to ride a motorbike, rent a taxi or rent a tourist car to get to the wharf. Travel time is about 20-30 minutes, depending on the means of transport you choose.
Starting from the center of Can Tho city, you move along the route QL91B/ Nguyen Van Linh to the Southeast lagoon. At the intersection of 30/4 street, turn left, go straight onto Hoa Binh avenue, turn right onto Vo Van Tan street. Continue going straight for about 500 meters and you will be at Ninh Kieu wharf.
At Ninh Kieu wharf, there are many agencies that rent boats to visit the floating market and some other places you can freely choose. Most of these agencies have people on duty, ready to provide services for you from morning to afternoon.
5.2 Traveling to Cai Rang floating market from An Binh market
An Binh market is near the foot of Cai Rang bridge, about 5 km southwest of Can Tho city center. The distance is not too far, so you can move there by motorbike, rent a taxi or rent a tourist car, all very convenient. Travel time takes about 15-20 minutes.
Starting from the city center, you go along Nguyen Van Linh street to the South. Go about 500 meters, turn right onto Hoang Quoc Viet street. Go straight to the end of the street, turn left at Shop Thuy onto Lo Vong Cung street. Then turn right at Nguyen Kha grocery store, go straight for another 100 meters and you will reach the pier to the floating market at An Binh market.
At An Binh market, there is a ferry terminal managed by the state, next to which there are some households that provide boat rental services to visit the floating market. And some nearby attractions such as orchards, My Khanh tourist village, traditional craft villages, you can freely choose.
5.3 Boat rental price to travel to Cai Rang floating market
5.3.1 Boat rental form
There are two most popular forms of boat rental here:
- Joining with other groups on a large boat.
- Renting a private boat: boat if you go in a group; small boat if you go with 1 – 3 people.
However, according to the travel experience of Can Tho travelers, you should rent a boat right at Ninh Kieu wharf. Rent a private boat if your group is large so that you do not have to depend on others and can use it again at each point as you like. If you go alone, you can join a group for a price of 30,000 – 40,000 VND (depending on the number of people on the boat).
5.3.2 Reference boat rental prices:
- 1 – 7 passengers: 500,000 VND/boat.
- 8 – 15 passengers: 600,000 VND/boat.
- 16 – 30 passengers: 700,000 VND/boat.
- 31 – 40 passengers: 800,000 VND/boat.
- From 40 passengers or more: 900,000 VND/boat.
Note: The above is only a reference price, it may change depending on the tourist season and your bargaining ability.
6. Activities And Experiences When Traveling To Cai Rang Floating Market
6.1 Discovering the unique culture of Cai Rang market
The floating market is not only a cultural symbol of the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. It is also an attractive tourist destination for domestic and foreign visitors to experience and feel. Cai Rang floating market is a typical intangible cultural heritage, with unique local characteristics.
“Village customs” of Cai Rang floating market: “Cây bèo” and “4 treo”
Have you ever heard the saying “béo hình”? In the Southern Vietnamese dialect, the word “béo” means to invite or show off, to show off the shape. The “béo” pole is a typical form of advertising in Can Tho floating markets.
The “béo” pole is a 3-5 m high pole used by boat owners to display the goods they sell. Due to the large outdoor space, the sound of waves and the loud sound of the boat engine, it is not possible to use a call like in the mainland market. Vendors often prop up the “béo” pole right in front of the boat’s bow and then symbolically hang up the items they sell so that buyers can recognize them from afar.
Hanging items on the “béo” pole also has the message “4 treo” that people implicitly understand each other.
- Hang whatever you sell: Vendors will hang up the things that the boat has for sale. Buyers only need to look at the “béo” pole to know what is sold on the boat. For example For example, the owner of a boat selling mangoes will hang the mangoes on the Beo tree.
- Not hanging but selling: These are boats that serve food and drinks such as noodles, rice noodles, coffee, etc.
- Hanging but not selling: When a boat hangs clothes or household items, it is the residence of the family on the river.
- Hanging this but selling that: If the Beo tree hangs a roofing sheet or a coconut leaf, the item being sold is the boat itself.
6.2 Enjoying fruit from the garden comfortably
The southwestern region of Vietnam is blessed by nature with rich, fertile land, suitable for growing crops. Cai Rang floating market is also one of the largest agricultural markets in the region. Therefore, it is not surprising that the fruits and vegetables here are always of extremely high quality. You can ask the traders to process them on the spot and enjoy the fruit right on the boat.
In addition, you can also visit Can Tho fruit gardens to enjoy the delicious and juicy specialties of the West. Such as mangosteen, orange, durian, plum, star apple, star apple, guava, rambutan, jackfruit,…
6.3 Visiting handicraft villages
Craft villages such as coconut candy kilns or noodle kilns are interesting stops on the journey to explore the Western Capital.
Visiting a noodle kiln in Can Tho is an unforgettable experience for those who love food and want to better understand the production process of this region’s specialty noodle dish. The noodle kiln opens up the entire noodle production process from preparing ingredients, cutting into noodles, and how to cook the special broth of Western noodle. After that, you can enjoy a delicious bowl of fresh noodles or a unique “Noodle Pizza” right at the kiln.
At the coconut candy kiln, you will observe the handmade coconut candy production process and participate in simple steps such as stirring the candy mixture and wrapping the candy. Don’t forget to buy fresh batches of candy to bring home as gifts.
6.4 Listening to Don Ca Tai Tu on Cai Rang Floating Market
Don Ca Tai Tu is a traditional music genre recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. Don Ca Tai Tu carries within it the heart and feelings of the people of Southern Vietnam. It reflects the artistry and colorful life in the Mekong Delta.
Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho is a special place to enjoy Don Ca Tai Tu. Every weekend, a boat carrying musicians and artisans will go along the river to perform for merchants and tourists. This program also contributes to making the atmosphere of the floating market more vibrant.
You can sip a cup of coffee or a glass of sweet coconut while immersing yourself in the outdoor music space with the sweet folk songs like “Sugarcane” by the Tay Do girls. These are truly unforgettable experiences for your trip to Cai Rang floating market.
7. Specialties When Traveling To Cai Rang Floating Market
When coming to Cai Rang floating market, you cannot miss the experience of sitting on a boat and enjoying delicious, unique local dishes in the middle of the vast river.
In this “floating culinary area”, you can find countless traditional dishes. From vermicelli soup, hu tieu, grilled pork vermicelli, banh lot, congee, lac hu tieu, hot pot with fish sauce, hot pot with banh phu sa, ... Fresh drinks such as coconut water, iced coffee, soy milk, ... to even drinking places on the river.
Among the countless delicious dishes sold here, hu tieu and kho coffee are 2 specialties you must try when going to Cai Rang floating market. These are two unique delicious specialties born from the cultural characteristics of the river.
In Can Tho, “white rice, clear water”, the noodles and broth also have a very different flavor. The aroma of fresh coriander, a little boiled meat, pig’s feet, everything blends perfectly to create a dish with a strong Western flavor, both light and rich.
Even world-famous chef Gordon Ramsay has praised: “Hu Tieu at Cai Rang market is one of the most wonderful dishes” that he has ever tried during his trip to explore Vietnamese cuisine.
8. Accommodation When Traveling To Cai Rang Floating Market
After participating in a series of activities and experiences at Cai Rang floating market. You can return to Can Tho city to relax and rest overnight. Here are some hotels that you can refer to:
- Holiday One Hotel. Address: 59-61-63-65 Pham Ngoc Thach, Cai Khe, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho.
- Nesta Can Tho Hotel. Address: 9C Tran Phu, Cai Khe, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho.
- Iris Hotel. Address: 224 30/4 Street, Xuan Khanh, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho.
- Muong Thanh Luxury Hotel. Address: Area E1, Con, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho.
- Hau Giang Hotel. Address: 34 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Tan An, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho.
- Magnolia’s Can Tho. Address: 79 Chau Van Liem Street, Tan An, Ninh Kieu, Can Tho.
9. Some Important Notes When Traveling To Cai Rang Floating Market
To make the most of your trip to Cai Rang floating market, please note the following useful notes:
- Find out information about the weather in Can Tho in advance to determine the appropriate time to go.
- When renting a boat to go to the floating market, you should find out the exact information of the boat rental person. Negotiate the price and agree on the time and places to visit.
- Do not deposit any money in advance, if a deposit is required, there must be a clear receipt.
- Pay attention to the ideal time to go to the floating market to have the most complete experience
- You can combine visiting the floating market with famous Can Tho tourist destinations that can be traveled by boat such as garden areas, My Khanh tourist village, etc.
- Wear a full life jacket when traveling on a boat. Note that your hands should not be placed on the side of the boat to avoid unfortunate incidents.
- Ask the price before enjoying breakfast dishes. Such as porridge, vermicelli with fish sauce, noodles, etc. at boat shops on the river
- Do not ask too much for the price and then do not buy. Especially with boats selling fruits, agricultural products, etc.
With all the updated and useful information about Can Tho travel experiences. Which Origin Vietnam – a reputable tour operator, has shared in the article above. Hopefully it will help you in your Vietnam tour journey to explore this extremely special floating market with extremely interesting experiences.
