Cai Rang Floating Market, Can Tho – A rendezvous in the West of the River

Referring to the very typical culture of the Mekong Delta, it is impossible not to mention the floating market, a unique type of market that perhaps no other region in our country has. In which, Cai Rang Can Tho floating market is the busiest and most typical market, voted by the UK’s Rough Guide travel magazine as one of the 10 most impressive markets in the world, the famous tourist website Youramazingplaces also voted as one of the 5 most beautiful and interesting floating markets in Asia.

Cai Rang floating market is an invaluable “specialty” of Can Tho people in particular and Westerners in general. Anyone who goes to the West also visits Can Tho floating market at least once. This is a unique river culture in the West that cannot be found anywhere else. Coming here, visitors will understand more about the life of the people floating on the river as well as the unique culture of the long-standing river trade of the Western community.

With a name that is both interesting and strange, it is a delight for many people who are curious as to why the market is called Cai Rang, what does Cai Rang mean and who gave that name to the floating market. Explaining the name “Cai Rang”, people in Can Tho tell a legend as follows. Accordingly, the name Cai Rang comes from the story of the beginning of the time of reclaiming and establishing a hamlet. Legend tells of a crocodile with a very large body washed here, its teeth plugged into this mouth of the earth. Since then, when the floating market was formed, people used the name Cai Rang to name the floating market. However, according to some research documents, the name Cai Rang is derived from the Khmer word “karan” which means “ca rang” (the apple). Khmer people in Xa Ton (Tri Ton) make a lot of karan to sell everywhere to serve in the processing of dishes, especially they sell a lot in this Can Tho river area. Because the word is difficult to read, over time, Vietnamese people have pronounced the word “karan” into the word “ca rang” and then Cai Rang.

Cai Rang Floating Market is located on a tributary of the Hau River flowing through Cai Rang District, Can Tho City, about 6 km from the center of Can Tho City. About 15 minutes by road, and 30 minutes by boat from Ninh Kieu Wharf.

By road, you run along Vo Tanh road to Ba Lang canal, towards Phong Dien district, about 500m from Cai Rang bridge. But most tourists in Can Tho, when visiting Cai Rang Floating Market, choose a boat from Ninh Kieu Wharf, because when traveling by boat, they can fully feel the beauty of the river. Depending on the number of groups, you can choose option one is to join on a large ship

Completely different from the market on the mainland, Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho and other floating markets of the western provinces and cities are held very early. From 4 am to 5 am is the right time to go to Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho.

By this time, the boats had begun racing to the market. Coming to the market at this time, you will not only be immersed in the lively atmosphere, bustling with buyers and sellers, but also have the opportunity to admire the beautiful floating market picture at dawn. Arrive at the market center around 6 am, at this time you can have breakfast right on the boat.

Like many other floating markets in the West such as Cai Be floating market (Tien Giang), Nga Nam floating market (Soc Trang) or Long Xuyen floating market (An Giang)… so far, there is no document that can identify the market. What year was Cai Rang floating? According to some researchers, Cai Rang Floating Market was formed in the early years of the 20th century, before the appearance of Nga Bay (Hau Giang) and Nga Nam (Soc Trang) floating markets. The market was born because of the essential needs of people when daily life is associated with the river topography.

Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho has a common feature of Western floating markets as it is located at the confluence of 3 rivers (branch of Cai Rang and Hau rivers). This position has a water level that is neither deep nor shallow so that boats can easily anchor and move. This place is also located near a market on the shore and a large fruit granary.

Previously, Cai Rang market sold mainly agricultural products and each boat only specialized in selling a certain type of item. However, now the market has sold more variety such as cuisine, household items and necessities for life on the river.

To experience the bustling atmosphere and visit the beautiful scenery at Cai Rang floating market, you can go any season of the year according to your free time. In addition, if you want to discover a special season that is only available in the West, you should come here between mid-August and late November. This period is when the West welcomes you. The flood season is also known as the flood season.

You will be overwhelmed by the sight of dozens of boats parked close to each other, filling the whole river with bustling trading activities, the atmosphere is extremely bustling and joyful with a Western flavor.

In the past, floating markets were formed because roads and means of road traffic were not developed. Meanwhile, the demand for buying, selling and exchanging goods is high. The people of the four lands gather on the river and by means of transport such as canoe, boat, and tac gong. Trading is very convenient. Today, although the road network has developed widely, the floating market still exists and is maintained.

The market is located on the waterway of Can Tho river – Xa No canal, so it is very convenient for trading and trading with neighboring provinces and the Mekong Delta. This is the reason Cai Rang floating market has the largest and busiest scale compared to other floating markets in the region. Goods in Cai Rang floating market are very diverse, almost without any shortage of items, the main products are fruits and vegetables, specialties of the Mekong Delta, in addition, there are also handicrafts and goods. necessities to food service, drinks, coffee…

Especially in the last days of the year, Cai Rang floating market is even more prominent when wearing a new shirt from brilliant flowers.

In order for customers from afar to know what products they are selling, the seller hangs the product on the bow of the boat called a “tree”. This form of “shopping” is a unique trade culture that only floating markets have – a way to advertise products without noise and haste but bring visitors and customers interesting things. own taste.

Coming to Cai Rang floating market, it is not too difficult for you to see vendors with salt and pepper colored hair. However, they still want to stick with this market for the rest of their lives. Because, they have given deep affection to this small corner on the Can Tho River. And if they don’t sell for a day, they feel nostalgic for the bustling sound of boats and feel sad.

The life of the people here is sometimes fast, sometimes slow to the beat of the waves. Just like that, the floating market still becomes colorful by the goods; the warmth of the simple, rustic people of the river. The commercial life but full of gratitude has made the floating market formed and preserved over the years.

The market meets on the river, so if you want to buy goods and visit, you have to sit on canoes. Coming to the market, you can just relax and enjoy the cool breeze while enjoying a variety of fruits, rustic Southern dishes such as Tet cake, orange cake, little cake, soup cake, vermicelli dishes. , vermicelli … And although it is a river trade, the ingredients are still prepared as diverse and complete as on the shore. The drink menu is also very diverse such as: soy milk, black coffee, milk coffee, coconut water, teas… with very affordable prices.

The dishes on Cai Rang floating market are simple and rustic but still retain the soul of the Western culinary culture that has not been lost for hundreds of years.

Due to the nature of a floating market and all activities take place on boats and on rivers, all items are simplified to the maximum. Eating here, you don’t have a chair, no table, but sometimes it’s simply a long wooden bar across the two sides of the boat, the boat has the ideal table to enjoy the food.

Sitting on the boat, in the middle of the vast river, eating a bowl of noodle soup, hot crab vermicelli or soup cake, with a cup of sweet and bitter coffee will be experiences that make you unforgettable

Formed for a very long time more than 100 years, and facing the appearance of countless dry markets as well as large commercial centers, Cai Rang floating market still retains its inherent features. Therefore, this place is definitely an interesting destination for those who love discovery, novelty, and want to learn about the culture of the Southern river region.

If you want to experience the discovery of Cai Rang floating market – a specialty of the western region of the Southern River, please contact Viet Huong Tourism immediately. We will help you have the most enjoyable trip