When it comes to Saigon – the old name of Ho Chi Minh City, tourists from all over the world often imagine busy markets that are “honored” symbols such as Ben Thanh market, Cholon – Binh Tay Market, Tan Dinh Market … But not so many people know there is a fruit floating market, hidden for nearly 30 years, with the rustic Mekong Delta style right in the busy center. Local people named “Saigon fruit floating market”, quietly operate day after day along the zigzag canals, creating highlights for the city’s picture to be more vivid.
Where is the fruit floating market in Saigon?
This market is held along the banks of Te canal, on Tran Xuan Soan street (District 7). The most exciting is the section from Rach Ong bridge to the foot of Kenh Te bridge, about 6km long but very busy of trading.
A part of fruit floating market in Ho Chi Minh (source: collected)
Whether the level of water is shallow or not, there are always dozens of boats parked close together, carrying variety of fruits, willing welcome customers, no matter you’re retailers or wholesalers. As the evening goes on, the number of buyers increases. Each convoy of tricycles, cyclos, and small trucks came to pick up fruits after that delivery them to other local markets the city.
Fruits from Mekong Delta River
Most of the merchants, at this floating market, come from Mekong Delta River. They’re bought and transferred by boat down to the river to Saigon from local orchards, especially from Vinh Long, Long An, and Ben Tre. Normally, bananas, papaya, coconut and jackfruit are the main fruits that can be sold all year round because of their seasonal characteristics. Other fruits such as rambutans, mangosteen, durian, plums…, depending on the crop, merchants will provide them to earn extra income. Most of the buyers are longtime acquaintances, or small traders in Saigon’s markets who come to buy wholesale and resell.
A trader is a selling fruits along the market (Source: collected).
Fruits at this market are good quality, and are taken directly from the orchards in Mekong Delta, so it’s more reassuring. Besides, the selling price is also softer than at wholesale markets. For example, bunch of bananas costs from 10,000-20,000 VND, the price of dragon fruit is about 10,000 VND/kg; rambutan 15,000-20,000 VND/kg; jackfruit 20,000-30,000 VND/kg… meanwhile in retail markets, mini stores or supper markets…, the selling price usually much higher. The special thing is that the sellers and buyers here are very orderly and lovely, happily “dealing the price” together.
For some famous floating market in Mekong Delta River such Cai Be, Cai Rang, Nga Bay Phung Hiep… they have been attracting a lot of tourists come to visit. How about this fruit floating market, do you want to explore it?
