Mekong Delta Floating Markets Guide: Cai Rang, Phong Dien, & How to Choose Your Best Tour | Vietnam Purple Travel Guide

Today, we will visit one or two floating markets, explore Can Tho, and then head back to Ho Chi Minh City with the transfer that you have pre-arranged.

Here at Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides, we promote self-guided walking tours.
But we realize that not everybody likes to walk by themselves in a foreign city. So, just in case that you rather go with ab guide: NO PROBLEM! Please see the Viator tours below.

What Floating Markets can you visit in the Mekong Delta?

There are two floating markets that you can visit: the floating markets of Cái Răng and Phong Điền. Both are near Can Tho.
It is important to note that both are best visited before 8am.
These floating markets reflect centuries-old traditions of commerce on the water, now rapidly disappearing due to modernization, making your visit both memorable and meaningful.

Cái Răng Floating Market

(map, reviews, Viator_tours, GetYourGuide_tours)

• The largest and busiest floating market in the Mekong Delta

• This is a wholesale floating market

• Nowadays less than 50 boats are selling fruits, vegetables, coffee, and breakfast dishes

• Some traders still advertise their goods by hanging samples on tall poles (called cay beo)

• Great opportunity to buy and enjoy a bowl of hu tieu (pork noodle soup) or other local foods while floating, and seeing how vendors manage open flames on their floating wooden boats

Phong Điền Floating Market

(map, reviews, Viator_tours, GetYourGuide_tours)

• Much quieter and more local than Cái Răng

• Nowadays you will see fewer than 10 boats, usually around 5

• Smaller boats, nowadays typically with one engine instead of historically being rowed by hand

• Focus on produce, sometimes a few household items, and trading among villagers

• Ideal for photographers seeking authentic scenes of river life

• This floating market typically dissolves by 8am

• This floating market is dying and may cease to exist in a few years

How to choose the Floating Markets tour that is right for you

(map, reviews, website)

There are many floating markets tours – most visit only the Cái Răng Floating Market (Viator_tours, GetYourGuide_Tours), but some combine it with a visit of Phong Điền Floating Market (Viator_tours, GetYourGuide_Tours).

Pro Tip: Most of the floating market tours offer a Mekong Experience. Be advised that this Mekong Experience is a 30min (or so) boat ride in a canal off the Can Tho River (blue line on the map below), which in part looks like what you see on our Day 4 Mekong cruise, but this area is more urbanized (more people, more houses) than our secluded Day 4 Mekong tributary itinerary in Ben Tre. Also be advised that the Can Tho River flows into the Hau River, which is the largest distributary the Mekong River.
Officially, the Hau River branches off the Mekong River in Phnom Penh (Cambodia) where it is called the Bassac River, about 120 miles (190 km) to the north of Can Tho, but there is another connection between both rivers in a rural area in Vietnam about 62 miles (100 km) north of Can Tho.

If you want the whole experience and do not mind visiting the little underwhelming Phong Điền Floating Market, then we suggest visiting both.
If you are short on time, then only visiting the Cái Răng Floating Market is a good idea.

Below is a review of a floating market tour that visits both markets.

Review of: Mekong Delta Explore Cai Rang and Phong Dien Floating Market Tour

The tour starts at around 5am with a pick-up at your hotel in Can Tho. If you stay near the waterfront (e.g. TTC Hotel - Can Tho), then your guide will walk with you to the eastern end of Can Tho Love Bridge (map) where the boat waits, otherwise you will ride on the back of a motorcycle to the starting point.
Your boat ride starts in the dark, and you will be surprised by how illuminated the banks of the Can Tho River are, as many people are already working at this time of day.

During the boat ride, you will see the sun rise, and you will be offered a traditional Vietnamese hat to shield yourself from the sun when it gets too intense.

A little over 2h later, you will arrive at Phong Điền Floating Market.
Your boat will stop near the boats of this small floating market for about 15min. In these 15 min you will see everything there is to see.

Afterwards, you will go on land and be treated to hot breakfast. From your vantage point you can see the market which will likely dissolve while you watch. As mentioned earlier, this is a dying market that will likely cease to exist in a few years.

Then you will get back to the boat and start heading back towards Can Tho. After about 1.7 miles (2.8 km) your boat will turn left (north) into a canal, which we believe is part natural and part manmade.
Part of this canal looks similar to what we experienced yesterday during the Day 4 Mekong tributary itinerary in Ben Tre. But you will always know that there are people only a few steps away.

After the canal ends, you will continue your trip towards Can Tho for about 2.2 miles (3.5 km). Then you will see the Cái Răng Floating Market that you passed earlier on your way to Phong Điền Floating Market.

Here you have a chance to buy some food from one of the vendor boats. See how they manage open fire on their wooden boats.

At the floating market, you will board one of the ships to explore the living conditions incl. crammed quarters and storage holds on these boats. And you will be served some fruits.

After the boat tour and a very short boat ride you will dock at a small market, where you can learn how to make rice noodles, and you can try some local dried food.

Afterwards, you will be brought back to the starting point.

Self-Guided Walking Tour of Can Tho

Before we leave Can Tho and return to Ho Chi Minh City, we will have a little time to enjoy lunch and explore Can Tho.

You can find the detailed Self-Guided Walking Tour of Can Tho here

Where do you want to go now?

Author: Rudy at Backpack and Snorkel

Bio: Owner of Backpack and Snorkel Travel Guides. We create in-depth guides to help you plan unforgettable vacations around the world.

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