The Mekong Delta leaves a strong impression on travellers exploring this region of the country on the Vietnam holiday. It is appreciated for its tasty dishes, traditional folk songs, fruit orchards, canal system and yellow/green rice paddies. One of the noticeable highlights of the Mekong Delta is the vibrant and lively floating markets.
Let’s look are a few of the popular floating markets in the Mekong Delta:
Cai Rang
Cai Rang is the largest of the floating markets in the Mekong Delta. It is open from 5:00 am until 12:00 pm, but it is best to visit as early as possible, at least before 9:00 am. Popular items traded in this market include agricultural products, wholesale fruits, and specialty items from Chau Thanh District. Each market boat has a large, upright pole that is used to hold a sample of the items for sale. For instance, a boat selling fruit like bananas, pineapple, mango, papaya, etc. will simply have that particular fruit hung on the pole.
In addition to trading goods with the locals and tourist, there are a variety of services offered at the floating market. Vietnamese breakfast dishes like a delicious bowl of Hu Tieu or Pho are served while paddling along the river, as well as coffee.
Cai Be
Located at Tien Rive, Cai Be is another of the prominent floating markets in the Mekong Delta. It is lively from early in the day (about 3:00 am) until late afternoon. There are nearly 500 boats and rafts anchored along the riverside, all packed with fruits and vegetables, as well as other regional items. Also, the market has great local scenery with stilt houses on two banks and lines of coconut trees.
An in-depth tour of the Cai Be floating market on the Vietnam family tour is certain to give eye-catching scenery and unforgettable memories while seeing the hustling daily life and enthusiastic locals.
Tra On
The Tra On floating market is located adjacent to Tra On Town and near the intersection of the Mang Thit and Hau River River. It is the last of the floating markets to visit on the Hau River. Even though the Tra On market opens really early at 2:00 am to 3:00 am, the busiest times are still around 5:00 am to 6:00 am. Similar to other Mekong Delta markets, the major items for sale include seasonal agricultural products (radishes, cabbage, okra, potatoes, gourds, etc.) and fruits (rambutan, longan, mangoes, etc.). Plus, there are several small boats on-site serving coffee and food.
Nga Nam
Nga Nam floating market is situated in Soc Trang Province and lies at a point where 5 rivers met: Phu Loc (Soc Trang), Phuoc Long (Bac Lieu), Phung Hiep (Hau Giang), Vinh Quoi (Soc Trang), and My Long (Hau Giang). The boats are used for both life and business activities. Goods for sale are rich in seasonal goods, fruits, vegetables and meat. This market has the high-quality and high volume goods. The preferred time to visit this market on the Vietnam travel is about 6:00 am when the sun rises and the local are ready to start selling their wares.
