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Floating market is a typical market of the Mekong Delta, in which, Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho is the busiest and the most typical river market of Mekong Delta river culture. Seen from above, the market looks like a vivid picture with all colors.
Cai Rang Floating Market is one of the 3 largest floating markets in Can Tho, a place to exchange, buy and sell agricultural products, fruits, goods, foods and drinks on the river, especially specialties of the Mekong River Delta.
Cai Rang Floating Market is located in Cai Rang district, 30 minutes from Ninh Kieu wharf by boat. Cai Rang floating market was formed in the early years of the twentieth century. This special market mainly sells fruits, agricultural products and specialties of the Mekong Delta.
Previously, the market was formed to meet the needs of people to exchange, buy and sell goods because the road system was not developed. Today, although roads, traffic and trade are convenient, small businesses in the river region still maintain this floating market as a long-standing cultural beauty. The ideal time to visit Cai Rang floating market is from 5am to 8am.
The way of showing goods in the Mekong Delta floating markets is to use "bamboo tree". Vendors hang their goods on a 3 - 5 m high "bamboo tree", plugged into the boat so that customers can easily see or recognize them from afar. Hanging things on the pole also has many messages that people implicitly understand with each other, some boats that "don't hang but sell" are the ones serving food and drinks such as noodle soup, cake soup, coffee...
Seen from above, the boats are close together with a variety of items, colorful fruits look like a vivid picture.
Small boats carrying all kinds of goods will come close to tourists' boats to facilitate selling
Each boat is a mobile shop. Not only buying food to take home, you can also experience many snacks such as noodle soup, banh chung... right on the river.
In 2019, Rough Guide Magazine (UK) voted Cai Rang floating market as one of the 10 most impressive markets in the world, describing a particularly fancy feature as the "colorful tropical" selling boats.
In 2013, world famous chef Gordon Ramsay had the opportunity to visit and explore the cuisine of the Southwest region. The noodle dish at Cai Rang floating market has left him with an unforgettable impression. He shared, the noodles here have the aroma of chives, herbs, everything blends perfectly to create an overall that is both light and rich, but not sure Vietnamese restaurants in London could compare.
In 2016, Cai Rang floating market was recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage. This place is an interesting destination for those who love to explore, want to learn about the culture of Mekong Delta river region
(Photo: toquoc.vn)
