Visit Cai Rang floating market once!

“ Can Tho, with its white rice and clear water – Whoever goes there will not want to leave” – From the white sand and golden sunshine of Binh Thuan, we had the opportunity to visit the land of Tay Do (Can Tho) before the New Year 2024, with only about 6 hours. Our first choice upon arrival was to experience the Cai Rang floating market, a unique attraction in Cai Rang district, Can Tho city.

With a ticket price of 100,000 VND per person, at just after 5 AM, we arrived at Ninh Kieu wharf, right in the city center, to board the boat. Putting on our life jackets, we began our journey along the Can Tho River to Cai Rang floating market, about 7 km from the city center. Although it was still twilight, the bustling activity of boats and barges carrying agricultural products on the river was incredibly lively. The sound of engines, the splashing of water, and the sweet calls of the small boat owners selling their goods alongside ours filled the air. According to our guide, Cai Rang floating market starts operating from 2-3 AM, is busiest between 4-6 AM, and trading takes place throughout the day.

Indeed, in the cool morning air of the river region, both sides of the river are densely packed with cargo ships anchored in place. The ships' holds are filled with countless kinds of fresh agricultural products such as pumpkins, watermelons, oranges, and pomelos. There are also floating houses and eateries, the living and trading spaces of the locals. Hai, the boat driver who took us, explained that Cai Rang floating market is a major wholesale market for buying and selling vegetables on the Can Tho River. Many cargo ships and boats from the Mekong Delta provinces gather here, each province identified by its license plate. Some ships and boats dock for a week, while others leave for a few days. If you observe carefully, you'll see that the boats selling goods will display a potted plant, distinguishing them from the boats buying goods.

Upon seeing the tourist boats arrive, small boats laden with fruits like rambutan, longan, mango, and star apple approach, offering samples and quoting prices ranging from 30,000 to 90,000 VND per kilogram, depending on the variety. Besides the fruit vendors, there are also boats selling tea, coffee, and soft drinks, soliciting customers right on the river. All transactions take place through the windows of the service boat. Immersing themselves in the bustling atmosphere of the market, tourists can observe and learn about the daily lives of multi-generational families living on the boats. Each boat is a house on the water, complete with potted plants, pets, and all the necessary amenities. According to the boat driver, their lives on the river lack nothing, except… land ownership certificates.

Agricultural products are sold from boats.

Experiencing the Cai Rang floating market for the first time, being immersed in the sweet melodies of the Mekong Delta and interacting with the people there, I felt their genuine, hardworking nature. The floating market experience only lasted 2-3 hours, but it left a deep impression on me and many other tourists.

Leaving the vast and expansive Can Tho River, I suddenly thought of the remoteness and isolation that the Mekong Delta region had imagined before I even visited. But after going there, I saw the development of transportation infrastructure, with expressways from Binh Thuan to Ho Chi Minh City, the Trung Luong – My Thuan expressway, and countless bridges of all sizes, making regional connections easy. Thanks to this continuous development, the Mekong Delta has undergone many changes, gradually reducing reliance on waterway transportation. The Cai Rang floating market, with its unique cultural characteristics, continues to attract tourists from all over. This site was recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2016.

From the Can Tho River, I'm reminded of the Ca Ty River winding through the heart of the coastal city of Phan Thiet. I recall the exciting experience of sliding down the sand dunes under the bright golden sun... Perhaps each region has unique characteristics that are hard to find anywhere else, creating a highlight for tourism in each locality, which needs to be promoted and preserved...

For me, Cai Rang floating market is an unforgettable experience!

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/mot-lan-den-cho-noi-cai-rang-115955.html