The outstanding features help the Western floating markets attract a large number of visitors.
The floating market is considered the “soul” of the Southwest region. This place attracts visitors not only because of the charming beauty of the river but also because of the unique and bustling shopping and dining experiences. Although the same floating market, in each region, the floating markets bring their own unique and interesting features.
Cai Rang Floating Market – Can Tho
Located at the confluence of rivers (branch of Cai Rang and Hau rivers), Cai Rang floating market is a wholesale market specializing in wholesale buying and selling of fruits and agricultural products of the Mekong Delta. In 2016, the market was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage. This place used to be the largest rice-purchasing place in the West the overseas Chinese.
Before it was a wholesale market, Cai Rang floating market operated from 2am to 3am. Business people often have to go early because this is the time when merchants go to buy goods from other places to sell. Now, when tourist activities here are more exciting, the market starts operating from 5 am – 8 am to serve tourists. On Lunar New Year days such as the 1st, 2nd of the Lunar New Year, the Lunar New Year, the market is very little active and almost inactive.
This is the market with the most visitors and the most restaurants causing media storms. There are many famous shops here such as the pink vermicelli shop, the noodle dish that was praised by Gordon Ramsay (a famous Scottish chef, judge of the American Chef King program) as “the queen of broth”. …
Long Xuyen Floating Market – An Giang
Located on the gentle Hau river, Long Xuyen floating market is close to Long Xuyen city, An Giang, so it is very convenient for tourists in the process of moving. Not noisy and bustling like many other floating markets, Long Xuyen floating market takes place extremely smoothly in a quiet and peaceful space. Because it is not affected by the commercialization of tourism, this place sells very cheap goods, it can be said that the floating market sells goods that are not affected by the price of the tourism business. The seller is warm with a sincere and honest heart of a true western child.
A unique feature of the Long Xuyen floating market is the image of “baby trees” present everywhere instead of the hustle and bustle of sellers. The merchant will hang the items that the boat sells on the “bark tree” (ie a tall pole) to promote to tourists. So, if you wonder what that boat sells or what items you want to buy, just look at the “baby tree”.
Nga Bay Floating Market – Hau Giang
Belonging to Nga Bay city, Hau Giang province, Nga Bay market, also known as Phung Hiep floating market, has been around for more than 100 years. Phung Hiep Floating Market was established in 1915, until the 40s onwards, this place became the largest waterway intersection in Cochinchina. The unique feature of the market is that the market is located at the crossroads where 7 rivers intersect. This place becomes the focal point where most of the trading, exchange and transshipment activities of the western provinces take place with more than 300 boats gathering every day.
Thanks to the uniqueness and novelty, the Phung Hiep floating market was made a documentary film by Mr. Jacques Yves Cousteau – captain of the famous Calypso ship in 1922. Nga Bay floating market is known as not just an area. market with a “terrible” history, large scale, but also curious to visit because this place was mentioned in the famous Vong Co – The love of selling mats of the late composer Vien Chau.
Tra On the floating market – Vinh Long
Tra On Floating Market is the last floating market on the Hau River before emptying into the sea, located right between the confluence of the Hau and Mang Thit rivers, in Tra On district, Vinh Long province. Unlike other floating markets, Tra On floating market often meets by water. The market is open all day and is most crowded in the morning or at the peak of the big water. A special feature of the Tra On the floating market is that traders sell whole fresh agricultural products in groups of goods distributed by gardeners in the form of wholesale.
The main products of this place are fruits with a variety of varieties such as coconuts, bananas, guava, pineapples, oranges, mugs, grapefruits, jackfruits, etc. When coming here, visitors should try the steamed specialties. very popular, such as vegetarian fish or beef noodle soup served with banana vegetables,… In this market, there is a point that makes a “brand” that is: the seller does not challenge but the buyer does not pay the price. .
Nga Nam Floating Market – Soc Trang
As the intersection of five rivers flowing in five directions: Ca Mau, Vinh Quoi, Long My, Thanh Tri, Phung Hiep, Nga Nam floating market is located in Ward 1, Nga Nam town, Soc Trang province. This place was formed quite early, bearing the typical culture of a busy floating market with many exciting and bustling trading activities and the charming landscape of the “nine dragons” land.
While Cai Rang floating market operates mainly for tourism, Nga Nam floating market is an important trade hub. The trade in goods, especially agricultural products, here contributes to the transportation of more goods to remote areas south of the Hau River such as Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Bac Lieu and the whole Ca Mau peninsula because of the traffic in these areas. This site has many limitations. Because it is the place where large boats buy, sell and distribute the most goods, Nga Nam floating market holds a market almost all day, from 2, 3 am.
