FLOATING MARKET IN VIETNAM

It will be your regret unless you join special markets in southern Vietnam. Floating market, the main method to exchange products in watered area with numerous rivers is a great invention of Vietnamese people to adapt difficult living condition there. Though it has the same function with other markets, it clearly reflects southerners’ cultural identity in Vietnam

Overview of Cai Be floating market

SPECIALTY OF VIETNAMESE SOUTHERNERS

Mekong delta, popularly known as the anti-American War is also famous for its floating markets, typically, Phung Hiep and Cai Be. Coming to the Delta, you can start the motorized boat to take a visit the Cai Be floating market, experience how to exchange goods, fruit and others on their vessels.

The pole of a boat preparing to go the market

From different regions, people take their goods, fruits and vegetables mainly to the market and sell them to local dealers. These dealers will sell to shops in the nearby areas and to wholesale dealers. Each boat has a pole. They hang the goods they want to sale on this pole. For this simple method, people on smaller boats know where should go from a certain distance. It is the same a floating vegetable supermarket. Not only can you buy products, but you also find out some floating restaurants, bar even floating gas stations.

A boat at Phung Hiep floating market in morning

Canal is the easiest and fastest vehicle here. The largest market in Mekong delta is the Phung Hiep busy market. It opens from 4 am to 11 am. The best way to enjoy this market is to stay there and then wake up early and take a boat to travel in the morning. On a typical day, you might see coconuts, mangoes, turtle even plump pigs. All is your dessert in a fresh morning on floating market.

A boat sells steamed sticky rice for those going to the market in morning

Since the 19th century, Cai Be, one of well-known floating markets in the southern Vietnam’s western region was formed.

Tourists excited at taking part in this market at morning

The market is always busy, having all the locals’ cultural identities in the western region. Raft and boat is the main transportation to exchange goods here. Situated in the Tien River, adjacent to three provinces of Tien Giang, Vinh Long and Ben Tre, it is divided into two parts: buying and selling places. The method to buy and sell is similar to other floating markets in the Mekong delta.

A busy and crowded scene at Cai Be floating market

From 3 AM in the early morning, boats are crowded. It is easy to understand in the largest wholesale floating market in this region. Floating Market is their unique cultural characteristics creating so nice a river work art.

Floating market in Phung Hiep, Can Tho Province. Source:EcoseaTravel

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