Cai Rang floating market is one of the three largest floating market in Can Tho. The unique features and characteristics of Cai Rang floating market is trade of fruits and specialities of the Mekong Delta.
Cai Rang floating market is located on Cai Rang river, near Cai Rang Bridge, about 6km from Can tho city. Like other floating market in the Mekong Delta, the market was formed to meet the demand for trade and exchange of goods.
People here gather on the river by many kinds of mean like boats, rafts. Nowadays, although the road network has developed widely, floating market still exist and more and more grow, which bring the potential for economy and tourism.
Cai Rang market is on quite early and usually from early morning to about 9a.m. On the market, there are hundreds small and big boats parked close together. The boats full of fruits and farm products and each boat usually will specialize in selling a type of item. Besides, on each boat there is a pole with the kind of item sold on that boat. Just looking at the pole, we can know what kind of good such as fresh fruits like grapefruit, watermelon, dragon fruit, rambutan and many agricultural products like pumpkin, cabbage, onions. The seller needn’t advertise, the buyer can still know the kind of good. For example, if this boat is sold mango, the pole will be hang some mangoes. So, the way of selling here is very different from the land market.
The time Cai Rang market is the most crowded is around 7-8a.m. The goods sold in the market is not only fruits but also there are many kinds of other services such as pho, coffee, floating eateries. Besides, some service boats are also very popular to serve the tourists seeing and exploring Cai Rang market’s specificity. In front of of the vast place, visitors seem to see the soul be opened and feel the difference of life here to see the sincerity, simplicity and hospitality of people of the Hau Giang River.
The travelers coming here will be attracted by features of the floating market, the simplicity of the river and the sweet voice of the western girls. Then after leaving this land, the tourism can miss the “small world” on this gentle river.