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 the canal on Tran Xuan Soan Street, Tan Hung Ward. The most exciting is the section from the Rach Ong bridge to the foot of the Kenh Te bridge, about 6km long, but very busy with trading.
Whether the water level is shallow or not, there are always dozens of boats parked close together, carrying a variety of fruits and ready to welcome customers, whether you’re a retailer or a wholesaler. As the evening goes on, the number of buyers increases. Each convoy of tricycles, cyclos, and small trucks then picked up fruit and delivered it to other local markets in the city.
Fruits from Mekong Delta River
Most of the merchants at this floating market come from the Mekong Delta River. They’re bought and transferred by boat down to the river to Saigon from local orchards, especially from Vinh Long and Tay Ninh. Normally, bananas, papaya, coconut, and jackfruit are the main fruits sold year-round because of their seasonality.
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.
Fruits at this market are good quality, and are taken directly from the orchards in the Mekong Delta, so it’s more reassuring. Besides, the selling price is also softer than at wholesale markets. For example, a 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 supermarkets…, the selling price is usually much higher. The special thing is that the sellers and buyers here are very orderly and lovely, happily “dealing the price” together.
Some famous floating markets in the Mekong Delta River, such as Cai Be, Cai Rang, Nga Bay, and Phung Hiep, have been attracting many tourists. How about this fruit floating market? Do you want to explore it?
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