Nga Bay Floating Market is not only a place for trading and exchanging goods, but also a unique Hau Giang tourist destination, imbued with the life and culture of the Mekong Delta region attracting many visitors. traveler.
Why is it called Nga Bay floating market?
The market is not only a place for economic and goods exchange, a place to make a living but also a unique tourist attraction that hides the cultural beauty of each locality. Especially the floating market – a familiar concept, typical culture for the people of the Mekong Delta for generations. That is the name of the markets trading on rivers and canals. There are floating markets almost everywhere in the southwestern provinces. From Cai Rang Can Tho market, Cai Be floating market in Tien Giang, Nga Nam, and Nga Bay markets are all extremely popular with tourists in particular and the people of the country in general.
Panoramic view of Nga Bay market. Photo: vntrip
Among them, the famous Nga Bay Hau Giang market has the largest scale and the most bustling atmosphere, attracting many Western tourists to visit and experience.
It is called Nga Bay market because this is the meeting place of 7 river routes in the Southern region including Cai Con, Bung Tau, Mang Ca, Soc Trang, Lai Hieu, Xeo Mon and Xeo Dong. In addition, it is also known as Phung Hiep Hau Giang floating market. This is considered a wholesale market with all kinds of goods and agricultural products. Traders here both wholesale and retail with goods from all over the world gathering and then distributing them everywhere, at home and abroad.
The market attracts young people. Picture Quynhmai_289
For generations, people in the western provinces have been extremely familiar with the image of boats full of goods. From a distance, we can see tall trees hanging all kinds of fruits and agricultural products to introduce products that are sold to buyers for easy selection.
Where is Nga Bay floating market located?
The market is also a famous tourist destination in the West, not only a place containing the unique culture of Southern life, but also a place to save the footsteps of ancestors, showing the cultural customs of the brand. Lake of many generations on the fertile alluvial land of Hau Giang.
River intersection in Hau Giang province. Photo: thamhiemmekong
Regularly at 2 – 3 am every day, boats from all over Cochinchina in six provinces converge and soon the bustling trade scene begins at Nga Bay – where is also known as “Pung floating market ” Hiep ” because it is located right in Phung Hiep area, today belongs to Nga Bay city, Hau Giang province. After learning about the name and location of the market, many visitors find it interesting because of the simple, sincere, and unfussy personality of Westerners because whenever they see a star, they call it by name just to make it easier. easy to remember and recognize. Especially for foreign tourists, the bustling scene in the peaceful river region is really unique and impressive. So, if you have the opportunity to travel to the South, especially in the floating season of the West, remember to check in Phung Hiep floating market.
More than a hundred years of history of Nga Bay floating market
Nga Bay Market was formed in 1915 and has a history of more than a hundred years, as ancient as other long-standing markets on the shore such as Dam Market in Nha Trang or Ben Thanh Market in Saigon. This is also the market with the busiest and most famous trading atmosphere in the Mekong Delta from the past to the present.
Old Nga Bay Market. Photo: thamhiemmekong
According to seniors, on peak days, especially Tet, the center of the market has more than 3,000 boats, boats and hundreds of rowboats, making the scene on the wharf under the boat extremely bustling. heat. It is day, and when night falls, the scene turns to sparkle with hundreds of oil lamps, lanterns spread everywhere, brightening up a river as well as the night of the lantern festival.
The scene on the dock under the boat was extremely bustling. Photo: @londat42
In addition to trading activities, there are many typical craft villages formed along 7 tributaries such as boat building, knitting and farming, etc. All make up a picture of bustling and lively activities in the western countryside. . The market gradually became famous and entered poetry and music with its captivating beauty. There are few people in Hau Giang who don’t memorize the sad and sad chant of the man who sells mats with his love in Love You Sell Mats: “The Ca Mau mat boat has put a pole on the bank of the Nga Bay canal, why didn’t the old girl see it say hello”.
Strange but familiar market. Photo: place.vn
With a history of establishment and operation over the past 100 years, Nga Bay market is both a living place for people living in the river region and a place associated with the subconscious, contributing to cultivating childhood memories of many children. away from home.
Wholesale market with all kinds of goods and agricultural products. Photo: dulich24
Unique experiences at Nga Bay Phung Hiep floating market
Most of the stalls at Nga Bay market are located on boats and canoes. And like many other floating markets, people go to the market and buy goods mainly by boat. Although moving on the river is not as convenient and fast as on the shore, trading on the river also has many interesting points.
The main goods at Nga Bay market are agricultural products. Photo: dulich24
The first and impressing many people from afar are the poles, which are tall poles that hang a few goods up to identify and distinguish the things they sell. It can be said that this is a unique and new form of advertising for many tourists because it is rare, even rare, anywhere.
One of the ways to advertise goods at Phung Hiep floating market. Photo: bazantravel
The second special thing is that the goods at the Nga Bay market are extremely diverse and rich. Located in the Southwest region, which is considered a fruit tree paradise with Cai Be gardens, Cai Mon fruit gardens , … famous nationwide, it is not difficult to understand when fruits are sold a lot in Vietnam. here.
Fresh seafood at Nga Bay floating market. Photo: @huynguyen1284
Going to the floating market, you will be treated with all the senses from sight by the golden color of mangoes and the bright red color of rambutan,… to the sense of smell through the sweet fragrance of durian,… by hearing. because of the joyful shouts from many boats selling many different kinds of fresh fruits picked from the beginning of the day in time for the early morning market. These Southwest fruit specialties are not only delicious but also very affordable.
Diverse types of products, including snakes… Photo: dulichvietnam
Besides, agricultural products, handicrafts, household items and especially mats also account for a large number. More impressively, on the floating market, there is also a separate area selling snakes, turtles, squirrels, birds, iguanas… And when Tet comes, many boats carry ornamental flowers, yellow apricots, marigolds, bonsai… an entire river.
The destination frequently attracts tourists. Photo: place.vn
But the most attractive tourist attraction is the experience of enjoying the delicious Hau Giang specialties of the Southwest cuisine such as vermicelli, banh soup, pancakes, hot rolls, heart porridge, noodles, pho, coffee, water sweet… right on the boat, floating on the river. And yet, visitors also have the opportunity to sit in a three-leaf boat to drop their souls in the waves of Hau Giang and listen to each long and sweet echo of the long, sweet voice. Occasionally, I also see a slim figure of Ba Ba who is rowing on a big river.
The unique culture of the river region. Photo: place.vn
Take the time to travel to Hau Giang and visit the floating market, you will feel the distinctive features of this place besides the familiar character of the whole Mekong Delta, do not miss it.
The market is considered the largest floating market in the West. Photo: vntrip
Some notes when going to Nga Bay floating market
You should watch the time to go very early because the market meets very early, even from 2-3 am, about 5-7 hours is the peak for buying and selling fresh agricultural products. As soon as the sun rose, a number of cargo ships also began to radiate in many directions. Although it is from then until afternoon and evening, the market continues to operate, but going early will bring the most special experience for visitors.
In addition, most of the goods in the floating market are also sold seasonally, so you should pay attention to the scene of busy boats, full of fruits, to know which fruit season is in.
Image of rowing boats on the water. Photo: bazantravel
Recently, Nga Bay market has been invested in a road system, built a tourist pier, supplemented with electricity supply, lighting, and water supply systems, so the market has also been moved to another location. . It is expected that after completion, the floating market will be restored to its old position and continue to become a tourist highlight of Hau Giang province in particular and the West in general.
The image of boats and canoes loaded with goods and busy trading on Nga Bay river brings a western beauty that is both rustic, comfortable, familiar, close and contains many interesting things for visitors. near far. It can be said that Nga Bay floating market more than 100 years old has been constantly creating a cultural imprint of Hau Giang to tourists from all over the country.
You will have unforgettable experiences so hurry up and plan a visit to one of these famous Western floating markets.
Photo: Internet