In addition to Vinh Trang Pagoda and Thoi Son Islet, Cai Be floating market is another tourist attraction in Dong Thap Province. The floating market is held on the Tien River, in the provinces of Vinh Long and Dong Thap. The floating market not only features many typical cultural elements of the Mekong River region but is also an attractive tourist destination, allowing visitors to admire its beauty and the traditional trading culture of the local region.
What is the right time to visit Cai Be floating market?
To best feel the excitement and bustling boats of the market, you should come here early in the morning, just before dawn, around 4 – 4:30 am. Fruits have just been transported from the gardeners, combined with freshly caught seafood, creating an extremely bustling market scene.
Between 5 and 7, the market is most crowded and busiest, with a wide variety of goods and fresh agricultural products. Tourists will definitely not want to miss this scene: in the dawning sky, a colourful picture of all kinds of boats bustling up and down the river. Furthermore, the temperature is really cool and comfortable. Please note that the market will end around 9 am. Many boats will move to another area, so don’t come late.
For those who love silence and peace, you should visit the floating market in the afternoon to see the activities of people on boats, feel more clearly the daily life on boats of the residents here, one of the characteristics of the Southwest.
In the afternoon, you should go around 16:00 when it’s less sunny. You will have moments watching the sunset on the river, the most beautiful and sparkling time of this floating market area.
What’s special about Cai Be floating market?
It takes about 2 hours to reach the market from Ho Chi Minh City. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the bustling, chaotic market atmosphere in the morning and explore one of the largest fruit-growing areas in Vietnam.
The market was established by residents who cultivated and settled the delta in the XVII-XVIII centuries. During its heyday, the Cai Be floating market was known as the unsleeping market. Every day, lots of boats and rafts gather here. They have been sold from fabrics, seafood, to appliances, and drinks, but fruit was the most prominent. Currently, agricultural products and foods are being offered to tourists and local people in this market.
Retailers in the market have a unique way to sell their products. They hang merchandise on a pole in front of the boat to attract customers.
Besides paddle boats, many big ferries are loaded with a lot of fruits or vegetables. Some retailers usually come to these ferries to purchase products from the merchant, then bring them to land markets to resell. From generation to generation, they have been using their boats as a “mobile house”.
Most of their daily activities would be separate from the boat and water. Unfortunately, the Cai Be floating market is shrinking each year as trade shifts to modern central markets. Another reason is the development of infrastructure, which benefits local traders more than relying on boats to transport and retail their goods on the river. To date, the number of ships operating at the Cai Be floating market has decreased significantly, with only about 100-150 boats available in the early morning.
However, fewer boats do not mean Cai Be has lost its attractiveness for tourists. In addition to the floating markets, visitors should visit Tan Phong islet, known for its large, succulent rambutans and longans. Wandering through orchards and enjoying fresh fruits or cycling around the local village is another thing that you should not miss.
Furthermore, Cai Be features numerous small canals which invite a discovery tour by sampan. If you want to stay overnight in Cai Be, a homestay is indeed a memorable experience.
Enjoy riverside countryside cuisine
Today, due to increased tourism demand and the needs of indigenous people, Cai Be floating market not only sells fruits and agricultural products but also has small boats selling wet cake, noodles soup, porridge, vermicelli, coffee…but instead of enjoying it on the shore, in a restaurant, visitors experience enjoy it “floating boat” in the middle of the delta river.
Each boat is a mobile restaurant, so you can enjoy rustic rural dishes and feel the relaxing rhythm of life on the river. Hundreds of boats running up and down a bustling stretch of river create a realistic picture of the simple, simple life of the countryside.
Some notes when travelling to Cai Be floating market
- Clothing: Choose lightweight, easy-to-move clothes to avoid getting in the way when sitting in a canoe or boat.
- Shoes: Wear sneakers, sandals with straps or flat shoes to get on and off the boat comfortably.
- You should bring a hat and an umbrella to protect yourself from the sun and rain, and to prevent sudden rain.
- You should also bring motion sickness medication, stomachache medication, sunscreen, and insect bite medication to prevent them.
Vietdreamtravel has just taken you to visit special activities at Cai Be Floating Market. If you have the opportunity to visit this place, don’t miss the chance to experience all the cool things we have just suggested. We’re also offering daily tours, package tours and private car to Cai Be, so don’t forget to contact us and wish you a happy trip & many memories with friends and family.
Best regards,
Viet Dream team,
