If you want to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere, be close to nature, and gain a better understanding of the lives of people in the Floating Market.
You can’t miss the Mekong Delta full day tour from Ho Chi Minh City, a journey to experience the land of the Western Capital fully, Can Tho, with places like Cai Rang Floating Market, a traditional craft village and Son Islet.
Cai Rang Floating Market is located right at the confluence of three rivers (the Hau River and the Cai Rang River).
Because of its prime location in shallow water, it provides ideal conditions for boats to anchor.
Gradually, more and more boats came to anchor here, turning it into a bustling floating market.
A happy international couple sitting on a wooden boat under the Cai Rang Floating Market welcome bridge in Can Tho
This is an attractive destination not only for locals but also a familiar stop on the Can Tho exploration itinerary for many adventurous travelers.
Established in the early 20th century, Cai Rang Floating Market is where people from the Mekong Delta come to exchange and buy goods, especially specialties of the region.
In 2016, Cai Rang Floating Market was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, becoming a source of pride for the people of the Mekong Delta.
Mekong Delta full day tour itinerary
At 4:00 AM: Begin the Cai Rang floating market adventure
The tour guide will pick you up at the hotel, beginning the tour of the Mekong Delta full day tour from Ho Chi Minh city and exploring the wholesale market along the Cai Rang floating market.
The floating market usually operates from 4:00 AM to 9:00 AM, so you have to start the day early.
07:00 AM: Cai Rang Floating Market
You arrive at Ninh Kieu pier in Can Tho. The tour guide will you onto a boat to visit the Cai Rang Floating Market.
You can freely explore and discover the unique beauty of this market. The bustling and cheerful atmosphere provides wonderful moments of fun and relaxation.
Travelers exploring the busy river life and trading boats of Cai Rang Floating Market during a morning boat trip
Furthermore, the locals are extremely friendly, so while shopping or eating on the boats, you can listen to them share stories about the daily lives of people in the Mekong Delta.
With the diverse range of goods, trading on the Can Tho River used to be challenging due to the market’s vast space, where the noise of engines and people blended, drowning out the vendors’ calls.
Therefore, the “four-hanging” – “4 treo” method emerged to help both sellers and buyers easily identify what nearby boats were selling.
In that context, “4 treo” means the following:
– What you hang up to sell: Whatever the boat owner sells, they will hang that item on a pole (also called a “neu” pole) so that boats and canoes on the opposite side can easily identify the goods.
– Hanging up but not for sale: Clothes belonging to families living right on their boats.
– Not displayed, but sold: These are the boats that serve food on the river, such as vermicelli, noodle soup, coffee, and meat sandwiches…
– Hanging one thing but selling something else: When a boat owner wants to sell their boat, they will hang a piece of roofing material on a pole.
Happy travelers having breakfast on a wooden boat during a morning tour of the Mekong Delta’s floating markets in Can Tho
You can have breakfast on the river with many famous dishes in Vietnam, like Pho, Hu Tieu (Vietnamese Noodle Soup), Bun Rieu, etc.
And treat yourself to delightful refreshments, including aromatic coffee, cool fresh coconut water, and various types of “che” (traditional Vietnamese sweet soup).
08:00 AM: Can Tho noodle factory
The boat will leave the floating market and take you to a noodle factory.
You will visit a traditional rice noodle workshop. This place is also famous for its noodle pizza.
Tourist experiencing the traditional process of making “Hu Tieu Pizza” (noodle pizza) at a local factory
Through a few simple steps, such as seasoning the noodles, frying them until golden brown, and adding ham, depending on the visitor’s preference, a crispy and delicious noodle pizza will be ready (at your own expense).
09:30 AM: Back to Cai Rang pier
You return to the Ninh Kieu pier. Arriving at the wharf where the captain had picked you up at dawn
10:00 AM: Con Son tourist area
Continue the Cai Rang floating market tour. The car will to take you to the pier, then transfer you to the Con Son tourist area.
You can board a boat to visit the fish farms on the Hau River: over 30 big and small fish farms form a long row stretching about a kilometer, standing proudly against the waves of the Mekong River, with many types of fish such as basa, eel, giant catfish… but the main species is the spotted snakehead fish.
Travelers relaxing with fish massage therapy at a local fish farm during a Con Son islet
Koi fish massage & enjoying Thac Lac fish cake: You will admire thousands of koi fish in various colors and experience the fascinating koi fish massage.
After the massage, the group will enjoy Thac Lac fish cake.
Travelers experiencing the famous flying fish performance
Next, you will visit the Flying Snakehead Fish area, you can admire the unique performance of snakehead fish leaping and jumping on the water’s surface, a truly strange and beautiful sight and visit the guava orchard to enjoy fresh, delicious guavas straight from the branches.
01:00 PM: Have lunch
You will have lunch at the Con Son Community Tourism Village, enjoying local specialties.
Visiting fruit orchards (seasonal): On Con Son Island, you can visit orchards of rambutan, longan, pomelo, mangosteen, strawberries, guava, etc., laden with fruit, and can personally select and pick the fruit directly from the trees to enjoy right in the orchard.
A group of tourists enjoying fresh longan fruit at a local orchard on Con Son Islet
3:30 PM: Return to the hotel
The driver will drop you off at your hotel in Ho Chi Minh City around 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM.
On behalf of the company, the Vietnam Trails Travel guide bids you farewell and hopes to see you again on future trips!
However, please note that the arrival time may be delayed by 30 to 60 minutes due to rest stops and weekend traffic congestion.
Travel tips:
Dress code: The 04:00 AM departure from Saigon can feel breezy and cool during the early morning drive and the open-air river boat ride. You should bring a lightweight jacket or a long-sleeved shirt to wear before sunrise.
Footwear: Non-slip sandals or sturdy walking shoes are essential. The 1-day itinerary requires constant stepping across motorboats, narrow river wooden docks, and the wooden planks of floating fish farms.
Cash: Physical cash in Vietnamese Dong (VND) is required to purchase breakfast noodle soups, iced coffee, or fresh fruits directly from the local boat vendors. Digital payments and credit cards are unavailable on the river.
Fruit orchard: You must consult the local guide or orchard owners before picking fruits directly from the tree branches on Con Son Islet to ensure you choose the ripe ones and respect the seasonal harvest.
