Phong Dien Floating Market

Phong Dien floating market is quite a famous tourist destination in Can Tho, with unique features of the Mekong Delta. Unlike the bustle and noise of the Cai Rang floating market, Phong Dien has fewer boats; it still retains the traditional and idyllic features of the floating market and is not touristized.

Where is the Phong Dien floating market?

Located about 17km from the center of Can Tho, the Phong Dien floating market was formerly at the confluence of the rivers. However, the market has now been moved about 800m from its old location, into the territory of Phong Dien Town. Below are specific instructions to get to the Phong Dien floating market:

1, By road: starting from the center of Can Tho city, you follow road 30/4, when you reach the roundabout, turn left onto road 3/2, continue to Cai Rang bridge, then go straight to provincial road 923. At this point, you just need to go straight 15km more to reach the floating market.

2, By waterway: For tourists who choose to go by waterway, you can go to Ninh Kieu wharf, then rent a boat to go straight to the floating market, which takes only 30 minutes of sailing.

The best time to visit the floating market

Like other floating markets in the Mekong Delta, many sampans gather at the Phong Dien floating market here from around 4 – 5 o’clock until about 9 o’clock. So, if you intend to visit the floating market, you need to come here from the very early morning. You should come to the market early, around 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. – this is when trading is most active and the market is most crowded.

Besides, at this time, the sun has not yet risen so the air is fresh and cool.

What is the uniqueness of the Phong Dien Floating Market?

Not so many travelers know about this market, so you can avoid a huge number of tourists and completely relax in the authentic atmosphere.

Unlike the Cai Rang floating market, which mainly sells agricultural products, the Phong Dien floating market is more plentiful. From fruits of the local gardens in Phong Dien such as oranges, tangerines, mangoes, milk nipples, plums, durian, mangosteen … to household appliances, grocery stores, fixing machines…

The local people use only small sampans for trade and travel, so it is hard to see any large boats here.

At the Cai Rang floating market, many merchants from other areas come to buy products and sell them back in other rural areas. On the other hand, the Phong Dien floating market was founded as a truly retail floating market of the Mekong Delta.

Same as many other floating markets in the Mekong Delta, the sellers here use a pole to hang their products for marketing purposes, especially with fruits. Today, although many roads have been developed in the remote rural areas of Can Tho city, the floating markets continue to exist, creating a unique cultural feature of the people in the delta.

“Must try” experiences when going to Phong Dien floating market

Enjoy breakfast on a boat

If you have the opportunity to go to Cai Rang floating market, you must definitely experience the feeling of having breakfast on boats floating on the water. Boats loaded with food and cooking utensils begin selling at dawn. You just need to sit still and call any boat to enjoy a breakfast rich in Western flavors.

Breakfast dishes at Cai Rang floating market offer unforgettable flavors of rustic Western cuisine.

Here, you will be free to choose from many delicious dishes with the bold characteristics of Western cuisine, such as vermicelli with fish sauce and noodles… The feeling of eating while watching the bustling scene of the morning and the sound of the bells. The salesman will certainly be interesting.

Experience enjoying coffee at “floating cafes.”

“Floating cafe” at Phong Dien floating market will bring you a special taste.

With prices starting from only 10,000 VND/cup, you can immediately try a delicious cup of coffee, enjoy it, and watch the rhythm of a new day on the Can Tho River.

Check in for “cool” photos

It would be a mistake to travel to the floating market without a live album and a sense of the bustling scene of boats at the floating market. It would be wonderful to wake up in a faraway place, welcoming the sunrise on the gentle Hau River. The morning rays will definitely give you a photo without dead angles.

Coming to the market, take advantage of the moment when your boat is weaving between large and small boats laden with colorful fruit; take lots of photos. This scene will definitely help you take the most unique and perfect photos.

Phong Dien is a small floating market that takes less than 2 hours to explore. Therefore, you should plan more destinations and activities in your itinerary to make your trip more diverse, such as visiting fruit gardens in Phong Dien and Truc Lam Phuong Nam Monastery, which is located next to the market.

Source: collected by An