10 Floating Markets In Vietnam You Must Explore On Your Trip

Dazzling boats, vibrant produce, and the echo of oars slicing through mirrors of tranquillity produce an indelible scene in the Mekong Delta. The floating markets in Vietnam are much more than places of business and trade; they are vibrant celebrations of river life. From a dawn gathering to lively exchanges of fruits, flowers, and meals under sunny skies, every moment uniquely captures the heartbeat of local culture. The floating markets represent a splendid transition for waterways as they become living theatres of cultural tradition and adventure.

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Top 10 Must-Visit Floating Markets In Vietnam

These bustling floating markets in Vietnam offer commerce, food, and customs regularly providing travellers with an experience they will find nowhere else in the world.

1. Cai Rang Floating Market

Wooden boats tied together, filled with vendors and their goods, at a floating market.

Photo: Jean-Marc Astesana / Wikimedia Commons

Vietnam has the best floating markets in Cai Rang, where traders come in wooden boats with pineapples, watermelons and papayas. In the early mornings, floating kitchens that make hot bowls of hu tieu, banh mi and strong Vietnamese coffee can be seen. One of the attractions is the so-called advertising poles, which are long bamboo poles on which they place what they are selling on each boat. Tourists can rent small sampans, which they can use to navigate through the crowded streets, where they get to observe the hustle and bustle on the ground.

Location: Can Tho, Mekong Delta
Timings: 5 AM – 9 AM

Suggested Read: Hoi An Night Market

2. Cai Be Floating Market

A boat filled with bananas is on a river, with four people sitting on top of the cargo.

Photo: McKay Savage / Wikimedia Commons

Cai Be floating market has provided both trade and art in Vietnam. There are fruit boats heaped with mangos, guavas, and pomelos, and there are workshops on the banks of the river making rice paper, candies made out of coconuts, and puffed rice cakes. Travellers can jump into sampans to sail along shaded canals and through nipa palm-framed canals to find a peaceful interlude in the main trading arena. Keeping track of the floating market Vietnam timings helps travellers arrive just as the sunrise lights up the waterways for the most vivid experience.

Location: Tien Giang Province
Timings: 6 AM – 10 AM

3. Nga Bay (Phung Hiep) Floating Market

A long boat on the water is full of coconuts and pineapples, with people on board.

Photo: Etsuma.W / Wikimedia Commons

One of the oldest and most traditional floating markets in Vietnam is Nga Bay, which is at the centre of the river culture. It is scattered with hundreds of boats carrying produce, livestock and household goods across seven intersecting canals. Compared to other markets, Nga Bay is a diverse and authentic market that sells ducks, chickens, as well as farming equipment. The floating breakfast stands are a popular attraction where sellers serve hot bowls of bun rieu (crab noodle soup) and sugarcane juice.

Location: Hau Giang Province
Timings: 4:30 AM – 8:30 AM

4. Nga Nam Floating Market

A large crowd of boats on a river, with some docked along the shore where vendors are.

Photo: Rangan Datta Wiki / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only

The floating market in Vietnam at Nga Nam is special, as it is at the confluence of five rivers, which form an active trading point compared to any other. These vendors carry boats which are loaded with the massive weight of pumpkins, dragon fruits and durians. One of the most noticeable details is that of floating flower sellers who come to add a splash of colour with water lilies and marigolds. There is also freshly prepared banh xeo (crispy pancakes) served on board and accompanied by iced herbal tea.

Location: Soc Trang Province
Timings: 5 AM – 9 AM

5. Long Xuyen Floating Market

A view of many small boats on a river in front of a shore with houses and trees.

Photo: Bùi Thụy Đào Nguyên / Wikimedia Commons

The Long Xuyen market is far less commercialised compared to other markets, and it is considered the best floating market in Vietnam, where travellers can have genuine interactions. Melons, papayas, and seasonal vegetables that can be found in the nearby farms are loaded onto boats here. Rather than tourist shops, there will be floating food stalls that will be grilling corn, frying fish cakes, and brewing ca phe sua da (iced coffee with milk). It is also unlike other markets because it has a major tourist attraction of floating seed sellers, who come with flowering plants, bonsai and garden necessities in their boats.

Location: An Giang Province
Timings: 5:30 AM – 10 AM

6. Tra On Floating Market

Photo: Monika Guzikowska / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

The floating market of Vietnam at Tra On is a hidden gem. It opens as early as 2 AM, and traders use oil lamps on their boats, which gives the market a magical nighttime effect. Visitors who come in the early morning are welcomed by lines of boats loaded with fruits, which sell mangosteens, star apples, and rambutans. The floating breakfast boats that prepare bun mam (fermented fish noodle soup) are another special attraction. Tourists spend their time rowing alongside canals lined by coconut palms and observing people passing rice sacks in the wooden boats.

Location: Vinh Long Province
Timings: 2 AM – 7:30 AM

7. Phong Dien Floating Market

A woman in a conical hat paddles a small wooden boat on a river near a larger boat.

Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg / Wikimedia Commons

Being much smaller but filled with charm, Phong Dien is regarded as one of the treasures of Vietnam’s floating market, as it runs throughout the day. The boats here sell pineapples, bananas, and cassava; floating stalls cook banh canh cua (thick crab noodle soup) and banh cuon (steamed rice rolls). One of the most popular tourist attractions is the floating blacksmiths who repair agricultural equipment and sharpen knives in their boats.. The tourists are in a position to rent paddleboats and leisurely sail among traders, having time to interact and talk to the sellers.

Location: Can Tho Province
Timings: 5:30 AM – 12 PM

Suggested Read: Shoe Shopping In Vietnam

8. Ninh Kieu Wharf Floating Market

A woman in a straw hat sits in a wooden boat, paddling with watermelons for sale.

Photo: Monika Guzikowska / Unsplash / Image For Representation Only

As an extension of the busy riverside promenade, the Ninh Kieu Wharf also serves as one of the finest floating markets in Vietnam. There are boats adorned with lanterns and flowers along the river selling tropical fruits, grilled skewers and iced coffee. The best part is the evening boat rides, during which the tourists are allowed to experience the sunset accompanied by the delicacies available in the Mekong, such as grilled river prawns. It is also popular to shop for fresh flowers and handicrafts sold by the vendors.

Location: Can Tho City
Timings: 6 AM – 9 PM

9. Chau Doc Floating Market

A woman in a conical hat stands in a boat filled with bananas and clay pots, sailing.

Photo: McKay Savage / Wikimedia Commons

Near the Cambodian border, Chau Doc is commonly referred to as the floating market in Vietnam that incorporates two cultures. The market is also associated with its lively spice boats, which sell turmeric, dried chillies and aromatic herbs. Vendors who grill freshwater fish and prepare Cambodian-inspired curries are also another attraction to visitors. Another distinctive feature is floating silk sellers with colourful textiles, scarves, and sarongs on their boats. Tourists will be able to experience cross-border delicacies such as prahok (fermented fish paste) and palm sugar sweetener.

Location: An Giang Province
Timings: 5 AM – 9:30 AM

Suggested Read: Things To Do In Vietnam

10. My Tho Floating Market

A group of people unload a large cargo boat docked on a river next to a dirt bank.

Photo: Güldem Üstün / Wikimedia Commons

My Tho is located at the mouth of the Mekong Delta and is regarded as the best floating market in Vietnam for its mix of food, trade, and natural beauty. Merchants fill their boats with coconuts, bananas, and lychees, while floating kitchens prepare bún thịt nướng (grilled pork noodles) and bánh khọt (mini coconut pancakes). The floating fruit-carving stalls with artists carving papayas and pumpkins into gorgeous, detailed designs are a great attraction. The sampans can be boarded by tourists at the palm-fringed canals, where they sometimes make a stop at the orchards of the riverside to taste honey tea and the tropical wines.

Location: Tien Giang Province
Timings: 5:30 AM – 10 AM

The floating markets in Vietnam serve as a journey into a living canvas that is rich in culture, colours, and tastes. Every market and waterway has its own rhythm, beginning at sunrise with the fruit boats and continuing at night with the lantern-lit trips that will always remain with the traveller. Plan your next adventure with TripXL and let the riverways of Vietnam add dimension to your travel experience.

Cover Photo: Monika Guzikowska / Unsplash

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of food do the travellers get in the floating markets in Vietnam?

The travellers can taste fresh-cooked noodle soups, tropical fruits, grilled seafood and traditional snacks served directly on boats, which are usually accompanied by Vietnamese coffee.

What are the common modes of accessing floating markets by visitors?

The majority of floating markets are approached by renting small boats or sampans at the local piers, typically organised by local guides or homestays, so that visitors arrive with plenty of time to explore the markets during the most colourful time of the day.

Do the floating markets in Vietnam have accommodation facilities?

Yes, many homestays and small guesthouses are common along riverbanks, allowing travellers to be close to the waterways, enjoy sunrise boat tours, and experience local hospitality while living through the real experience of village life.

What is the duration that the travellers must spend in Vietnam's floating markets?

The visits are two or three hours long and begin at daybreak, when the trade is the most active, but many will take the journey together with some of the surrounding scenery, gardens and canal excursions to make the journey more complete in all respects.

Can tourists buy other products other than fresh products in floating markets in Vietnam?

Yes, the tourists may purchase woven mats, craft hats and woodcraft, traditional fabrics, and fresh flowers, as well as fruits and food. Numerous traders sell small souvenirs that are a reflection of the river culture and life.

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