Floating markets were formed as a habit of moving on the river of the people of the Mekong Delta, from Nga Nam, Nga Bay down the Tien River to Hau River and then flowing all the way to Ca Mau, the bustling floating markets help trade from the countryside to the city. The typical products of the fertile land of nine dragons drift on boats, sampans or three-leaf canoes along the high and low tides through each canal and ditch to reach everyone.
Some famous floating markets in the West are well known such as: Nga Nam floating market in Soc Trang, Nga Bay floating market in Hau Giang, Cai Be floating market in Tien Giang, Long Xuyen floating market in An Giang, Cai Rang floating market and Phong Dien floating market in Can Tho. Of which, Cai Rang floating market is the most crowded...
Dawn on Cai Rang floating market
Boats crowded in the morning mist
Cai Rang floating market seen from above
The tradition of trading at Cai Rang floating market continues to be preserved, located on the waterway of Hau River - Xa No canal. Since the market was established more than a hundred years ago, boats and ships gathered to trade at the intersection of four rivers: Can Tho, Dau Sau, Cai Son, Cai Rang Be, located next to Cai Rang market on the shore. It was not until the 90s of the last century, due to difficulties in waterway traffic, that the floating market was moved downstream of Can Tho River, about 600 meters from Cai Rang bridge.
Cai Rang is a name that comes from an ancient story of land reclamation and settlement. Legend has it that a crocodile washed ashore in this river area with its teeth deeply embedded in the shore. Since then, people have gotten used to calling it Cai Rang and using it as the name for the floating market.
A crowded river with boats in September 2023
The bustling scene, although it has been deserted for hundreds of years, is very quiet.
Unlike markets on land, most floating markets in the West begin to gather at dawn. At around 3am, the lights of large and small boats, sampans, and sampans carrying goods back and forth along the canals surrounding the floating market sparkle.
The market begins with the bustling sounds of sellers and buyers greeting each other. The boats are not only from the region, at Cai Rang floating market there are many boats of traders from Ca Mau, Bac Lieu, Dong Thap, Soc Trang coming here to hold the market. After receiving the goods, the boats and ships spread out in different directions, usually by 10 am the market is closed.
Therefore, to go to the floating market, everyone should be there early, buy boat tickets to visit the market from Ninh Kieu wharf, Xom Chai ferry wharf or go straight to Cai Rang floating market. Ticket prices range from around 200,000 VND/person depending on how many people go.
Boats selling fruit drift down the river at the floating market
Diverse goods on boats and canoes
Buy and sell goods from big boats to small boats
Cargo boats with a distinctive feature of a pole in front
For those who come to the floating market for the first time, they will certainly feel curious and excited by the image of the beo pole hanging in front of each boat. The purpose of using the beo pole is to advertise the items they need to sell, usually whatever is sold will be hung on the beo pole. The beo pole is usually made of bamboo, the longer the beo pole, the more beautifully decorated it is, the easier it is to attract buyers to recognize and come. This is a simple, familiar and very typical way of inviting customers to buy goods in the river region.
However, not all items can be conveniently hung on the pole, for example, small fish will be difficult to see from afar, or heavy coconuts, durians... will usually be placed at the bow of the boat.
Tourist boats are crowded in the early morning.
Tourists come to discover the uniqueness of the distinct way of trading in the West.
Coming to the floating market, everyone should prepare themselves with an empty stomach to enjoy a delicious breakfast right on the boat. Many dishes are served on the spot such as vermicelli soup with crab, vermicelli with fish sauce, vermicelli with broth, rice noodles, rice noodles, broken rice, banh tam, meat sandwiches... hot and fragrant, and there is also coffee, tea, fruit juice, fresh coconut... for everyone to choose from.
The seller sits in the middle of the boat, his hands quickly serving hot, delicious bowls of vermicelli soup and noodles to the customers. There is nothing better than sitting on a boat bobbing in the early morning, enjoying a bowl of noodles, drinking a cup of coffee and watching the boats passing by, making the whole area buzz.
In addition, you can also sit on the boat to enjoy fruits, from fruits such as mango, guava, plum, banana sold by aunts five and seven on sampans.
Tourists enjoy breakfast on a boat at the floating market
The market only opens in the morning until around 9-10am. At this time, boats and ships go in different directions, leaving the river scene quiet until the next morning when it becomes bustling again.
Other merchant boats would pull ashore to prepare for the next morning's session. The nomads who were attached to their small boats were river traders, their lives were simple on boats full of agricultural products.
Panoramic view of Cai Rang floating market from above
In June, the People's Committee of Can Tho City signed a decision to establish a State Management Board (MB) for the conservation and promotion of the national intangible cultural heritage of Cai Rang floating market to serve tourism development.
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