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Cai Rang Floating Market is a unique type of market, a distinctive beauty of the Mekong Delta that cannot be found anywhere else in Vietnam. This is also a typical, bustling market that is the most famous for its cultural beauty of the western river region. When you set foot here, visitors will have a one-of-a-kind experience that allows you to admire the poetic beauty of the market at dawn, immerse yourself in the busy trading atmosphere, and enjoy a bowl of hot noodle soup on a boat. Let's explore more with NVK Travel right after this.
If you want to visit Cai Rang Floating Market, you need to pocket some important information about this tourist destination:
Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho is located on Can Tho River at 46 Hai Ba Trung Street, Ninh Kieu District. From there, the market:
Cai Rang Floating Market is considered one of the national intangible cultural heritages since 2016. The floating market was formed in the early years of the 20th century, mainly selling agricultural products and fruits typical of the river area.
In the past, the market used to be the largest rice purchasing place in the western region for the Chinese community. For those who love exploration and want to learn about the waterways of the South, this will definitely be an ideal destination.
A brief overview of Cai Rang Floating Market
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Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho still retains the unique beauty of a western market located at the confluence of rivers. This location has water levels that are neither too deep nor too shallow, allowing boats to easily anchor and move. This is also an area close to the riverside market with large fruit warehouses.
Previously, Cai Rang Floating Market mainly sold agricultural products, and each boat specialized in selling a specific item. However, nowadays the market has expanded to sell many types of products and essential foods for the lives of the people on the river.
The history of the unique floating market in Can Tho
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When should you visit Cai Rang Floating Market? This market operates day and night for local residents. If you want to visit here for tourism, you can book a boat or a small vessel in advance to enjoy the best time of the day.
Can Tho has two main seasons: dry and rainy. The rainy season starts from early May to November. The dry season lasts from December to April of the following year. You can visit the market in both seasons. However, if you want to enjoy delicious fruits, you should go during the dry season when the Mekong Delta has many tasty fruits.
The ideal time to visit the floating market
Completely different from land markets, Cai Rang Floating Market opens very early. From 4 to 5 AM is the best time to visit. At this time, boats have started to arrive at the market, and you can not only immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of buyers and sellers but also have the opportunity to admire the beautiful floating market scene as dawn breaks. Arriving here at 6 AM, visitors can have breakfast right on the boat.
You should experience the market in the early morning
Currently, there are many tour routes to the market from Ninh Kieu Wharf, but the most popular is the Ninh Kieu Wharf - Can Tho Bridge - Orchard - Coconut Candy Factory - Traditional Noodle Factory route lasting about 5 hours.
There are two common ways to rent boats:
According to NVK Travel's travel experience in Can Tho, you should rent a boat right at Ninh Kieu Wharf. Rent a private boat if your group is large so you are not dependent on others and can stop at your desired locations. If you are alone, you can join a group with prices ranging from 40,000 VND to 50,000 VND.
Current boat rental prices at the market
On your journey to Cai Rang Floating Market, you can explore some locations and participate in experiences such as:
It can be said that Cai Rang Floating Market sells a wide variety of goods. Each boat sells a different item, from fresh fruit baskets from the Mekong Delta to essential household goods for daily life.
Due to the spacious environment and the accompanying sounds of waves and loud engines, it is not possible to use the calling voices like on land. Therefore, the items here are hung on a pole called "Beo" so that buyers can easily recognize the items they need and approach.
The "4 hanging" method here means:
People trade with each other from this boat to that boat by tossing or passing items. Immersing yourself in the morning at the market, tourists can experience the bustling life of the riverside residents.
Unique terms commonly used in the market
If you come here in the early morning around 5 - 6 AM, it will be the time for breakfast. To serve local residents as well as tourists, there are many small boats weaving through every nook to sell rice with pork, hu tieu, bun rieu, fried pho, and various drinks like coffee, coconut water, soy milk, etc.
Among the delicious dishes here, there are two unique dishes: hu tieu and coffee that you definitely should not miss at Cai Rang Floating Market. These are two delicious specialties born from the riverside culture of the people of Can Tho.
If we talk about the origin of hu tieu lac, it is because every time the selling boat stops, tourists buy a bowl of hu tieu to eat right there. There are no tables and chairs like on land, so the hu tieu eaten on the boat sometimes sways, rocking back and forth, hence it is called hu tieu lac. In the past, people often used ceramic bowls and waited for customers to finish eating to receive the bowls back, but nowadays, to save time, sellers often use plastic bowls for takeout.
As for the unique kho coffee dish, its origin is also very interesting. According to many sources, when selling coffee on the river, wherever the wind blows, the coffee cools down very quickly, so people will have a small wood stove with a low flame to keep the coffee warm. This is also the origin of the name kho coffee.
Explore interesting cuisine right on the river
The next destination is Ba Cong fruit garden. Here you can freely take photos with various types of fruits and enjoy a small plate of fruit with about 4-5 types depending on the season. If you want to buy fruits here, you can contact the garden owner and buy as much as you want.
Visit the fruit garden and enjoy fruits freely
Coconut candy is a meaningful gift that cannot be missed when visiting Cai Rang Floating Market. So do you know how a piece of coconut candy is made? Here, this question will have an answer with the process of making a small, delicious piece of coconut candy.
The traditional hu tieu workshop is also an attractive tourist destination when visiting Can Tho. Here you can visit the traditional hu tieu making process and enjoy the unique "hu tieu pizza". Especially, not only can you watch, but you can also try your hand at some steps of making, and the types of hu tieu here come in many colors, each color made from natural ingredients.
Explore the colorful hu tieu making process
To have the most complete journey exploring Cai Rang Floating Market, you need to pay attention to a few things below:
Important notes when visiting the floating market
Above are the latest information about Cai Rang Floating Market that you can refer to. Hopefully, with what NVK Travel shares, you will have a more comprehensive and accurate view of the interesting tourist destination in Can Tho. If you do not have a detailed itinerary for your upcoming trip, contact us immediately for advice.
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