Navigate Top 6 Floating Markets Can’t be Lack In Mekong Delta Tour

Floating market is the quintessence of the Mekong Delta. Because of the dense river system of the Mekong region, floating market has been a way of life and trade in Mekong Delta for over 100 years. Smaller boats are uses as mobile grocery shops, as mobile cafes, where you can buy groceries, soda, coffee or noodle soup for breakfast. Nowadays, there are 6 floating markets in the Mekong Delta. Most of them bring similar highlights, so if Can Tho city is not included in your itinerary, you can opt for other alternatives in the region.

1.    Nga Bay floating market in Hau Giang Province

Also known as Phung Hiep Market, Nga Bay market has been around 1915 as a key trading spot for the locals. From Can Tho City Centre, it’s only 35 km to reach Nga Bay floating market, so this is a good alternative if you don’t like the touristy floating market in Can Tho city.

Floating market during the Luna New Year

This is a famous floating market in Hau Giang province where all goods exchanges of the Mekong Delta local occur, from fruits, vegetables, to animals such as snakes, turtles, birds, squirrels or varnas all year round. Particularly, on the Tet occasion (Vietnamese Luna New Year), you will immerse in a spring ambiance of yellow apricot pots, ornamental plants, and beautiful bonsai trees loaded on the boats. As a way of advertisement, they hang the items they sell on a tall pole. 

2.    Nga Nam floating market in Soc Trang Province

Situated at the intersection of five rivers, Nga Nam floating market is one of the oldest and most vibrant floating markets in the Mekong Delta. Nga Nam floating market in Nga Nam town, about 60 km from Soc Trang city, is a place that attracts tourists to visit and experience the river life in the Mekong Delta. To get to Nga Nam floating market, starting from the center of Soc Trang city, visitors can move along the National Highway 1A, to Phu Loc, then turn right to the 42nd provincial road.

Nga Nam Market
Nga Nam Market starts very early at 3 am and ends at 8 am. It reaches its peak around 5am-6am with the scene of hundreds of boats gathering. On the Tet holiday, the market opens all day. From a distance, visitors can see poles hanging goods such as cabbages, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, garlic or chilis.

Goods at Nga Nam floating market are plentiful and diverse, from the high quality rice of the granary of Mekong Delta, to vegetables and fruits; from agricultural products, seafood to daily groceries, ...
Nga Nam floating market still retains the attractive rural typical soul of the Southwest market in baba shirts and the sweet melodies of the folk songs.

3.    Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho province

As a famous market in Tay Do which attracts a lot of visitors, Cai Rang floating market is just 30 minutes by boat from Ninh Kieu pier. Depending on the number of people in your group, you can rent a private boat or join a group tour with other groups. On the boat, you are weaving through the canals to reach Cai Rang floating market. You have a chance to admire the charming scenery on both sides of the river with soaring green coconut trees dotting some small houses. 

Breakfast in Cai Rang market

The market starts from 4 am and till 8 am, it’s crowded with boats. The special feature of this market is the trading of famous fruits of the Southern region, from the pomelos of Vinh Long, the Lai Vung tangerine to Cai Mon durian.
To experience the bustling ambiance at Cai Rang floating market, you can visit at any time of the year. In addition, between mid-August to the end of November is the flood season in Mekong Delta, also the best time to visit Cai Rang floating market.

The market is inactive and very little active on Lunar New Year days (1st, 2nd, and 5th in the first month of Lunar Year)

4.    Cai Be floating market in Tien Giang province

Cai Be floating market is located in Cai Be district, Tien Giang, in Tan Phong islet on Tien river, which is bordered by three provinces of Tien Giang, Vinh Long, and Ben Tre. Unlike most floating markets that only meet in the morning, Cai Be floating market starts trading from the early morning until late at night. 

When the dawn is just up, the floating market is bustling with the hawker boats such as pho, noodles, vermicelli, all kinds of groceries ... run along to serve breakfast. With only 0.5usd, you can have a bowl of delicious Vietnamese noodles. Sitting on a floating boat, enjoying a bowl of noodles or fragrant coffee in the early morning is literally an exotic experience. When the sun has set behind the coconut trees in the distance, the “floating streets” become lively and colourful in the shimmering lights. From late afternoon, the market is less bustling, so you can fully unwind and contemplate the sunset on the Mekong Delta river. 

5.    Tra On floating market, Vinh Long

Tra On floating market is located at a prime location between the junction of Mang Thit River and Hau River in Tra On district, Vinh Long province. This is one of the oldest markets associated with many cultural activities of people in the region. Tra On floating market plays an important role in trading as it is not only a market providing products for locals but also becoming a major wholesale market, supplying agricultural products to many neighboring areas. Every day, Tra On floating market gathers more than 100 boats from all over the western provinces here for trading.

The goods in Tra On floating market are predominantly fruits from the fruit orchards of Mekong Delta, including bananas, coconut, guavas, tangerines, oranges, durian, mangosteen, mango, gourmet orange, or grapefruit.
Like other floating markets, early morning from 5am-6am is the busiest time of the day in Tra On market. Everyone is busy with their work, but there is one thing you will never forget is that the local here is very friendly and always smiling. Whenever a boat stops to buy, the sellers always have a big smile to customers and offer only one price for an item whether the customer is a local or a tourist. They are also open to sharing many interesting things about their daily life on the river.

Join a Mekong Delta tour with Threeland Travel, you can explore the local life at floating markets and learn many interesting things from stories and fun facts telling by our local travel guide. If you are looking for vietnam tour package then Feel free to contact us for more information at [email protected]. Share this article if you find it useful. Have a nice trip!