Welcome to Can Tho’s Magical Floating Market
The floating markets of the Mekong Delta are a star attraction of the region and here’s why! The colours, chaos, flavours, people, atmosphere, you name it – I’ve seen it on TV, but sitting next to hundreds of wooden row boats and watching with my own eyes was just an unforgettable experience!
Chợ Noi Cái Răng, or Cai Rang Floating Market, is the biggest floating market in all of the Mekong Delta and there’s countless reasons why you need to visit! Winding canals crammed with boats, friendly vendors selling local goods, floating breakfasts and fruits piled so high you think the boats may sink. It’s a surreal experience!
So whether you’re slurping back breakfast from your lap at 5:00am or watching someone whip up tasty drinks from their rocking boat, it’s an experience you cannot miss! Here I’ll tell you everything you need to know about Vietnam’s floating market!
A Quick History Lesson
Cai Rang Floating Market has thrived for over a century, connecting Can Tho City with its neighbouring provinces and the Mekong Delta beyond! Originally this floating market came to materialized when roads and transportation had not been fully developed. With so many winding and weaving canals stretching across Southern Vietnam, why not use the water as a means of transport and trade?
The incredible thing about Cai Rang Floating Market is that even after Can Tho developed into the largest city in the Mekong, the market lived on! Cai Rang Floating Market is still booming today, bringing in economy, culture, tourism and tons of love!
But how did it get its name, you ask? Cái Răng, is said to have been named after the teeth of a crocodile had become lodged into the river’s bank. The locals took this as a sign and deemed it Cai Rang, meaning tooth!
Another theory leads to its origins dating back to the Cambodian Khmer language. Cái Răng meaning ‘karan,’ a molded clay stove. Back when the floating market was just starting to take off as a means of trade, the Khmer people made and sold these clay stoves by boat and on land, hence the name Cái Răng Floating Market.
Should I Book A Tour Of The Cai Rang Floating Market?
Yes. In my opinion, yes 1000 times. There is no better way to see and understand the beauty that is the Cai Rang Floating Market than with a local expert. What may seem to be chaotic madness is actually a thoroughly organized trade center, but I can only imagine trying to navigate these waters myself. That would definitely spark some internal chaotic madness.
With a quick Facebook search for tours we came across Can Tho Touring With Susan and booked! She’s an epic local English speaking guide who lives and breathes the Cai Rang Floating Market!
We had the time of our lives with Susan! She shared so much knowledge, taught us all about Cai Rang specialties, introduced us to her buddies in the market and made us laugh all morning! I can’t recommend Can Tho Touring With Susan enough! If you make your way to the Mekong be sure to support the local guides here and reach out to her!
If you don’t want to book a guide you can always head to Ninh Kieu Station to book a ticket and visit the market by boat that way.
How To Get To Can Tho
Cai Rang Floating Market is located in Ca Rang District in Can Tho City, South of Ho Chi Minh City. Located just 4 miles (or 6 kilometers) from the city of Can Tho, the Cai Rang Floating Market can be done from dry land or by boat. But, it’s 1000% times better to see the market by boat.
From Ho Chi Minh City, the most popular and also the cheapest mode of transportation is the bus. It will take you around 4 hours from Ho Chi Minh City to Can Tho City. Here are a couple bus companies to buy your tickets from: FUTA Bus Lines, Thanh Buoi and Vu Linh.
If you’re feeling adventurous and want to take a road trip, you can rent a motorbike and ride it out! By motorbike it will take you 4 to 5 hours to get there.
Where To Stay In Can Tho
The Victoria Can Tho, right in the heart of Can Tho City, was the perfect escape for a weekend away. Sitting on the banks of the Hau River, The Victoria Can Tho offers 4-star comfort amongst its beautifully constructed colonial-style architecture and lush tropical gardens.
It was easy to spend our days relaxing by their incredible pools, sipping ice-cold cocktails and soaking up the Mekong sun! So, whether you’re looking for fun weekend getaway or a fabulously located resort in the area, The Victoria Can Tho was an amazing choice!
Check Prices For The Victoria Can Tho HERE!
Check Prices For The Victoria Can Tho HERE!
En Route To The Floating Market
Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! It’ll be an early one this morning! Be prepared to roll out of bed at 4:30am because that’s when the floating market is at its peak.
Local merchants bring their products early so that buyers can shop in the wee morning hours while the weather is still cool. This way everyone can go home afterwards and start their normal day by 9:00am. Between 5:00am and 7:00am is when you’ll get hundreds of boats gathered to buy and sell!
Lucky for us, The Victoria Can Tho sits on the banks of the Hau River where Susan greeted us in the dark of the morning! From the lobby we jumped into her boat where we met Cô Giàu, our wonderful driver for the morning! Off we went on a 30 minute boat ride to get into the morning market mayhem to get our hands on that infamous floating breakfast!
Welcome To The Cai Rang Floating Market
As the sun began to rise and we had officially crossed into floating market territory, our excitement levels to finally be here were rocking the boat! It was true, vendors do row into the market, buyers line the docks haggling and purchasing colourful fruits and delicious Vietnamese meals flow from the boats nearby. Amazing!
In the hustle and bustle of the floating market, you can also see local sellers using their own unique advertising system. On a super tall bamboo stick, each boat ties the product they’re selling to the very top. This way you can look up and find out what’s for sale today!
The bustling market atmosphere is also a great place to learn about the life of the many families that live here! These houseboats, or mobile apartments as they like to call them, have been home to several generations, many of which still live and work together on the boats!
The community of people that live on the water are not only super hard working, but friendly and always smiling! It’s fun to get a look inside some of their houseboats, they have everything from flower pots to flat screen TVs and motorbikes parked on the back! What more could you need!
Floating Breakfast
As 6:00am rolled around it was time to scout the market for a bit of breakfast! We asked Susan about the infamous Auntie Dì Hai Chinh who showed Gordan Ramsay the ropes in the Vietnamese noodle soup, bún riêu. Unfortunately, she is no longer selling at the market, but you can watch that infamous clip here:
So onward we went to another famous local Auntie selling what the locals know to be the tastiest soup on the floating market! Just by the sheer amount of boats lining up and waiting to eat her food, you could tell we were in for a treat!
Tasty, delicious, lip smacking goodness was our floating breakfast! Everything the Auntie cooks is handpicked by her earlier in the day to make sure each dish is fresh for her customers. Selling breakfast on a little boat in the floating market for over 35 years definitely makes you and your food legendary!
After an excellent breakfast we were on our way to find some caffeine via, what Susan likes to call, the ‘Floating Starbucks.’ Whatever you want, the coffee connoisseur has! Including hot soy milk and fresh Vietnamese coffee!
There are also several different types of coffee that you may not see anywhere else like Ca Phe Kho. This type of coffee is kept in a clay pot and cooked over fire to keep it hot. You can only imagine how incredible the smell must be, so make sure to give it a try!
Noodle Factory, Cacao Farm & Coconut Candy Factory
After a fantastic breakfast at the market we headed through the smaller winding canals of the Mekong Delta to Sau Hoai’s Rice Noodle Factory. Here we got to see every step of the noodle manufacturing process and even took a shot at making a batch ourselves!
Next we stopped into Muoi Cuong Cocoa Farm, just a small family run farm producing 4 tons of chocolate per year. The owner, Mr. Bin is very enthusiastic about his chocolate and although Susan was the one to show us around we learned how he spent years perfecting his chocolate by himself! After walking through the garden we sat down to enjoy a complimentary cacao drink!
Our last stop was at the Coconut Candy Factory where we got to see the manufacturing process of these delicious candies up close and personal. From the process of grating, kneading and cutting it manually, these little candies are such a tasty treat!
Heading Back To Can Tho
As we winded our way through the Mekong’s tiny canals we chatted with Susan and found a coffee shop along the river to help wake us up! Our morning slowly came to an end and we asked to be dropped off in downtown Can Tho to grab some lunch before heading back to our hotel.
I can’t recommend getting in touch with Susan enough, she is such a lovely person through and through. We all had such an amazing time laughing and getting to know one another throughout the morning. It was hard to say goodbye to her and Cô Giàu because without them, we certainly wouldn’t have had such an amazing experience!
Looking for a place to stay in Can Tho?
Get In Touch With Susan
Get in touch with Susan or check her out online! She is more than happy to chat with you and plan your Mekong Delta Floating Market Tour!
Facebook: @CanThoTouring
Instagram: @Susan.Bui.14
TripAdvisor: Can Tho Touring With Susan
If you have any questions or just want to see some more travel content find me on Instagram at @agirl.enroute! I’m always happy to chat!
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After living in Vietnam for over 4 years, a piece of my heart will always be left in Ho Chi Minh City! Vietnam should be a top destination for all travelers! White sand beaches, limestone mountains, terraced rice fields and incredible street food make Vietnam a bucket-list destination! From foodies to beach hoppers, arts & culture buffs to adventure seekers, Vietnam has something for everyone! Checkout more of my Vietnam blogposts below!
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