The floating market is a long-standing traditional culture of the people of Luc Si Thanh Commune in particular and the Mekong Delta River in general. This market is the local hub for trade and transactions across 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 the 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 ward. 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 who love road trips in the Mekong Delta. You can absolutely travel from Ho Chi Minh City to the Tra On floating market and back in the same day, in about 4 hours of driving. After arriving in Vinh Long ward 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 the Tra On floating market. Also, it would be the best way to go by private car to Tra On as it is 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 and 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 to 300,000 VND/trip, depending on the 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 ideal time to explore the Tra On market is during the floating season from May to August. This is the time when tropical fruits such as oranges, tangerines, mangoes, and pineapples are in season. Also, during the floating season, water levels rise, which makes boats the main mode of transportation.

tra on floating market

Every day, local people wake up very early, starting their jobs from 3 – 4 am. Therefore, according to many tourists’ experiences, 5 to 7 am is the best time to explore the market, as it’s the busiest time to enjoy the dawn.

How is the Tra On floating market unique?

The Tra On floating market is the trading place of large merchants, where only wholesale goods are traded 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 gardens to boats in wholesale quantities, then transferred to other markets in Can Tho, Tra Vinh, My Tho, Go Cong, Ben Tre, Sai Gon, Long Xuyen, Chau Doc, Ca Mau, Rach Gia… for retailers.

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, but also a home to many residents living in floating houses, who re-enact 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; instead, people were living.

tra on floating market
tra on floating market

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

Useful information Tra On floating market

Source: collected by An

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