While I was in Ho Chi Minh City, I booked a tour to visit the Cai Rang floating market. Many agencies in the backpacker district offer such tours. I picked a random one. The tour included transportation, one night accommodation, a visit to the Cai Rang floating market and much more.

I don't usually like to join tours but this was at the end of my three week trip in Vietnam. I was tired of the hardcore negotiations to avoid being scammed.  This tour was straightforward. I didn't need to do any thinking or planning. Plus, the price of about $18 USD was unbeatable. Getting there on my own would have been more expensive and complicated. This was the best option for taking it easy on my last leg in Vietnam.

CAN THO - THE ENTRYWAY TO THE CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET 

First off, we made a quick stop at Vình Tràng Temple (included in the price). Vình Tràng Temple is a large complex with pretty gardens, a plethora of potted plants and statues of Buddha carved out in white marble. The complex was very nice but I was eager to get to Can Tho.

Upon arrival in Can Tho, the group headed to the dock to board a small boat. The guide was a very joyful man with a talent for singing. It didn't take long for him to pick up the microphone and start belching out Vietnamese songs. None of the tourists from all corners of the world understood what he was singing. This made it even funnier.  He sang off-tune. His voice was crackling. The speaker was screeching.  Our ears were piercing. The boat filled up with laughter and our guide couldn't be happier.

After some time on the boat and several screechy songs, we transferred into smaller wooden boats known as sampans. The sampans were easier to navigate the narrow, murky waters of the canals snaking off the Mekong. We arrived at Turtle Island where we were taken to a candy-making workshop and a few other shops along the way. This was, of course, inevitable being in a tour group. And, this is exactly why I don't like joining tours.

The good thing was that the shops were along the canals where the views were awesome. I simply steered away from the group and enjoyed watching life go by in the Mekong Delta. That was much better than watching coconut candy being wrapped. Just sayin'.

I have to say, the sampan boat ride would've been much more pleasant if it weren't for the constant demands from the lady paddling it. She hardly spoke English (which was fine) but she certainly knew two words:

Tip money, tip money! 

I understand tipping is expected but the boat ride wasn't over yet. I laughed it off and she finally got the message. The nagging stopped allowing me to take in the surroundings without being distracted. It was peaceful and lovely. As we passed by houses, children waved hello. People washed their clothes in the ashen canal. It felt like I was a million miles away from everything. It was wonderful.

The first day of my tour was long but satisfactory. I arrived back in Can Tho when the sun had already set. The tour was over and I could do as I pleased. Naturally, I headed to the night market. It was small but bustling, just the way I like it. As expected, there were several food stalls and vendors selling just about anything. I even bought a cute pair of shoes for $5.

Next, I decided to take an evening stroll along the Mekong River. The riverside promenade seemed to be the place to hang out in Can Tho. It quickly filled up with families, couples and bratty teenagers. As if watching over all of us, a large golden statue of the controversial leader, Ho Chi Minh, presided over the promenade.  Can Tho was very relaxed despite being the entryway to the popular Cai Rang floating market.

The next day it was time to finally go to the Cai Rang floating market. Although the number of vendors are dwindling, Cai Rang remains the biggest and busiest floating market in Vietnam. It's only a few kilometres from Can Tho making it easy to get to by boat. I joined my small tour group on the boat for my second day of excursion. It took about half an hour to reach the Cai Rang floating market. From a distance, I could already see the floating vendors. I was excited!

Many of the vendors sold an array of fruits and vegetables. Pineapples or watermelons were piled on to the small boats. Some stopped to offer coffee and other beverages. What's so fascinating about the floating market is that whole families (with young children and even dogs) live on the boats. This was not only their business but their home, as well.

Perhaps we arrived too late, but I expected there would be more boats at the floating market. After all, it is the biggest floating market in Vietnam. Unfortunately for small business owners, it seems the arrival of modern supermarkets has lessened the need for floating markets.  Sadly, I think authentic floating markets will be a thing of the past. I'm glad I got to see Cai Rang before it completely disappears.

Up next, we docked on the muddy banks of Unicorn Island. This time, we went to a noodle-making workshop. I don't know if the workshop was set up for the sole purpose of receiving tourists but the noodle-making process was interesting enough.  After the noodles are stretched to size, they're set in the sun and left to dry. You can even buy some freshly-made noodles. Of course.

After the noodle-making workshop, we went to a farm where pineapples and dragon fruits were harvested. It was the first time I saw pineapples in their natural habitat . How cute are they?

And, it's a wrap!

At times, the tour did feel like a tourist trap but that was expected. In the end, it was definitely good value for money. It saved me a lot of time and I got to meet other travelers from around the world. I highly recommend a visit to the Cai Rang floating market before it's too late.