The floating market is a long-standing traditional culture of the people of Tra On district in particular and the Mekong Delta River in short. This market is the local point of trade and transactions in the districts and provinces throughout the western region. Today Tra On floating market is known as a tourist attraction for domestic and foreign tourists. Not only that, but this place is also a beautiful photo-hunting spot for your trip to Mekong Delta…

Where is the Tra On floating market?

Tra On floating market (Vietnamese: chợ nổi Trà Ôn, chợ nổi means floating market) is located on the Hau River, a tributary of the Mekong River, about 40km from the center of Vinh Long city, so to get here, you can go by car, bus or motorbike depending on your needs and starting point.

Motorbike or car: This is an ideal suggestion for those in Ho Chi Minh City and love road trips in the Mekong Delta. You can absolutely travel from Ho Chi Minh City to Tra On floating market and back in the same day in only about 4 hours of driving. After arriving in Vinh Long city center, you continue to travel along National Highway 1A to Binh Minh town. Here, you turn onto Highway 54 and go about 10km further to reach Tra On floating market. Also, it would be the best way to go by private car to Tra On as it easy for you to stop on the way and for sightseeing activities.

private car to Tra On

Sample of model 7-seater car to Tra On

Traveling by bus: Currently, there are many bus companies in Ho Chi Minh City in Vinh Long for you to freely choose. Some reputable bus companies include Futa, Mai Linh, Trung Kien, Phu Vinh Long… Bus ticket prices usually range from 150,000 VND – 300,000 VND/trip, depends on type of seats or beds you prefer.

bus to Tra On

Futa – one of the famous bus company to Vinh Long

Airplane: currently, there is no airport in Vinh Long. If you come from the Northern or Central provinces, you can buy a plane ticket to travel to Ho Chi Minh City. Then, you take a bus or rent a motorbike, car or bus to continue moving to Tra On floating market.

What is the best time to visit Tra On floating market?

The most ideal time to explore Trà Ôn market is during the floating season from May to August. This is the time when tropical fruits such as oranges, tangerines, mangoes, pineapples… in harvest season. Also during floating season, the level of water raise up that make boats being use as the main transportation.

tra on floating market

Every day, the local people wake up very early to start their daily jobs, from 3 – 4am. Therefore, according to the experience of many tourists, from 5 to 7am is the best time to explore the market as its busiest time combine to admire the dawn.

How Tra On the floating market unique is?

Tra On floating market is the trading place of large merchants, only wholesale goods on a large scale. The main products in the floating market are fruits, including Siamese coconut, banana pepper, guava, pineapple, jackfruit, pomelo, toad, oranges, durian…and agricultural products such as: cucurbits, okra, potatoes, radishes, cabbage, bitter melon, melon …

Tra On floating market

(Source: collected)

They are bought and sold in groups, distributed from garden to boats in the form of wholesale then transfered to other markets in Can Tho, Tra Vinh, My Tho, Go Cong, Ben Tre, Sai Gon, Long Xuyen, Chau Doc, Ca Mau, Rach Gia… to retailer.

The local people also have their own way to marketing their business. They hang their goods on tall bamboo trees, called “cây bẹo”, so that help customers quickly detect the items from afar. Along with that, food services, haircuts, curling, tailoring… also take place right on the river.

Tra On floating market

Not only a place to exchange goods, this market is a home of many residents living on floating houses, re-enacts many customs and habits of Westerners. If you return to the floating market in the afternoon, you will still see many boats gathered in this area. However, there were no longer any goods on the boats, but instead people are living.

tra on floating market

tra on floating market

At this time, the boat became a place to live and reside for people in the Mekong Delta River who traveled and floated on the rivers all year round. When night falls, a close, cozy family atmosphere appears during meals right on the boat.

Useful information

Source: collected by An

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