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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 US$18 was unbeatable. Getting there on my own would have been more complicated. This was the best option for taking it easy on my last leg in Vietnam.
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.
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 the 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.
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.
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 during your trip to Vietnam!
READ MORE ON VIETNAM
- The Gastronomical Imperial City of Hue
- Ho Chi Minh City: The Palpitating Pulse of Vietnam
- Ngu Hanh Son: The Marble Mountains of Vietnam
- The Colorful Diversity of Bac Ha Market
- Suoi Tien: The Place Where Fairies Live
- Things to do in the Charming City of Hanoi
- Visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels & Why I Didn’t Like it
- Gazing at Towering Limestone Pillars in Halong Bay
- H’Mong Tribeswomen, Lush Mountains & Rice Paddies in Sapa
TRAVEL RESOURCES
- Verify visa requirements for Vietnam on the official website
- Book flights to Vietnam via Skyscanner
- Compare hotel prices in Vietnam on Booking.com & Agoda
- Check hostel prices on HostelWorld
- Stay connected using an Airalo E-sim for Vietnam
- Search for tours & excursions in Vietnam
- Shop for affordable travel insurance with SafetWing
- Save on conversion fees while traveling with Wise
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I’m the founder and creator of Life Untraveled. I quit my corporate job, sold everything I owned and have been traveling full-time since 2018. I hope to inspire you to travel differently on a budget.
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amy
Thanks for this! I generally like going without tours too but like you said, you were able to meet people from different countries, which is always such a good time! I feel like I related a lot with you on your empathy with the local people. Sometimes I feel like an ignorant American taking pictures of people doing everyday things. I enjoyed your post 🙂
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haha…..well then I feel like an ignorant Canadian when taking pictures of locals! 😉
Katie @ CreativeTravelGuide
Wow looks like you had such an amazing time! we want to head back to Vietnam soon and will definitely visit this place! Love those floating markets!
La Vida Viva Travel
Sounds like you had a great time and that floating market is awesome, especially for that price. Really enjoyed hearing about your time. What was your favourite part of the trip?
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My favorite part was just floating on the Mekong taking in the scenery. It’s such an iconic river and I was mesmerized at how much it’s a lifeline for so many people!
Sumti Bhadani
Floating market seems to be very interesting to visit…..Thanks for sharing!!
Kathy James
I too sometimes need a break from negotiating my own way through a country especially when there is always wanting a piece of you (or should I say money). I completely understand the need to go on an organised trip.
It does sound like you had a lovely time at the floating markets and I am glad you managed to turn the experience of the lady in the boat to a funny one.
I remember seeing pineapples growing like that and I was really shocked. I thought it was a mutant tree :-0
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This tour was exactly what we needed and we got to meet some fun people from around the world! Haha….I’m so relieved to know I’m not the only one who thought the pineapple tree was strange (and very cute)!
Conversations of Us
This is a good take/perspective of Vietnam and this is just beautiful! Markets are really fun in Asia and we could always attest to that and their colourful culture, simply amazing! 🙂
Ling Ge
I am really excited to make it to Vietnam, but your introduction of a 3 week trip of hardcore negotiations to avoid being scammed and many sleepless nights on dirty buses sounds…adventurous. O.o’ So the $18 tour sounded like a great option! But it looks like an amazing and interesting experience. I think I would be most interested in the temples, which look pretty intricate and complex. We briefly visited a floating market in Cambodia, so I’d probably like to visit the Can Tho is Cai Rang market. Thanks for sharing!
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I believe the buses have improved tremendously but I don’t think the scamming has let up unfortunately! 😉
Leah Shoup
I don’t know much at all about travel in Vietnam, so this was super interesting to me! Especially learning about the culture and tipping haha…I had no idea they would complain about that. I’ve never heard of floating markets, but I definitely want to experience one! I also love that there’s a place called Unicorn Island hehe. Here’s to hoping I get to travel Asia sometime soon!
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Hope you make it to Vietnam one day – it’s a wonderful country as long as you’re careful with your money! 😉
michelle d
WHO KNEW WHAT A PINEAPPLE LOOKED LIKE WHILE GROWINg! I think I’m most blown away by that picture haha!! Looks like you had a lovely time
dolceandmasala
I would love to explore South East Asia. Only been to Thailand so far. Thanks for sharing your experience in Vietnam! I too would have wound up with a pair of shoes (or two). With my poor negotiation skills, a tour for $18 sounds good. Sounds like you had some interesting entertainment thrown is!
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I actually wanted to buy another pair of shoes but they didn’t have my size. 🙂
Caroline @ TheTravellingSloth
Bit unfortunate hearing about the Tip Lady! Sadly I’m not surprised to here that happened… I didn’t end up visiting Can Tho while I was in Vietnam and I didn’t know that Cai Rang is the biggest floating market! It’s always great when you meet like-minded travellers on the road though 🙂
Victoria Hawkins
I have yet to visit any destination in Asia. Vietnam looks awesome and the floating market is really something! Demanding tips is a real turn off though, I experienced that aggressively in Egypt!
Raymond Carroll
My wife is from Thailand and I plan on going to Vietnam in 2018. Your tour of the floating market for $18 USD seems really good value for money (much cheaper than Thailand); too bad about the sampan boat lady bugging you for tips, the wee singer sounds like a funny guy though. I like your pictures – I didn’t know pineapples grew in the ground like that – I thought they grew on trees like coconuts lol! Nice post. Take care, and good luck on your travels.
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The price was truly unbeatable – we were very happy to have taken the tour (saved us lots of headaches)! I’m glad I’m not the only one who didn’t know how pineapples grew….lol! Happy travels to you, too!
Abby
Floating markets appear to be a staple in Asia, isn’t it? I always love reading about these markets and other cultural activities from a country. That is such a good price for the tour, too!
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Floating markets are definitely part of traditional South East Asian culture and they’re great to visit especially when they haven’t been turned into tourist traps. 🙂
Lynne Sarao
I absolutely loved seeing the floating markets in Vietnam because it is something so completely different from anything I’ve ever known. Your story and photos brought me back there! Such great memories!
Gokul
I am off to Thailand next month. I hope to get to Vietnam from there. This post really helped to get an idea about the place.
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It was definitely a relief to not bother with bargaining and to not have to deal with scammers. It turned out to be a great decision on our part!
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haha…..the noodle-making turned out to be quite fun and interesting only because the workers were so friendly and we weren’t pressured to buy anything. I’m Italian and my grandmother used to make homemade pasta but I never even tried to make any….lol!
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Unfortunately locals always expecting more money from travelers is rampant in Asia. We found this to be quite annoying in Vietnam though!
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Great! We booked our tour in one of the many agencies around the backpacker’s district in Ho Chi Minh City. We only went to 2 or three and they all seemed to offer the same thing but this price was the lowest and the girl selling the tickets was very nice. 🙂
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I think floating markets are pretty much the same everywhere but what probably differs is how they’re presented to tourists and if they’ve kept their authenticity (which doesn’t seem to be the case in most countries). :
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Yes it was a bargain that we just couldn’t pass up! I only bought one pair of shoes only because they didn’t have my size in all the ones I liked. 🙂
A Woman Afoot
What a great tour! I’ve never been to this place of the world and it just looks magical! I loved especially the narrow Mekong river’s natural greenery! I am also surprised how those stilt-houses don’t collapse! Thank you for sharing your adventure with us!
Ioanna
Travelerette
The pineapple is super cute! The tour sounds like a lot of fun and I love the pictures of the floating market. I also love the jolly Buddha with the bulging belly. It’s great that you have a sense of humor about things like the tipping lady too.
Wander With Jo
I am headed to Vietnam soon and this sounds amazing. I love the Unicorn island and your noodle making workshop. cant believe how cheap the noodles were 🙂 I am always amazed how south east asia is so afforable – even more than India… thats why I keep going back 🙂
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You can easily book a tour when you’re in Ho Chi Minh City – I’m sure they all offer the same circuit. We bought a pound of those noodles but they rotted by the time we got home….lol! Enjoy Vietnam!
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You need to get some pics of your people then! I didn’t go to the floating markets in Bangkok as I heard they were mostly tourist traps. I didn’t feel that way about the one in Can Tho but I was expecting it to be much busier. But, you’re right, it was nice to get a glimpse nonetheless.
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There was plenty of candy to be bought to satisfy your sweet tooth! 😉
I had such a hard time finding my shoe size – everything is so much smaller in Vietnam and I ended up buying (North American) size 10 (or European size 40) when I usually wear size 6 or 7!
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I really liked Vietnam but, unfortunately, one of the downsides is scamming and always being asked for more money (no beggars though). I’m sure as travelers we can be quite annoying to some locals with our cameras….lol!
Sandy & Vyjay
A refreshing post with a candid perspective. Loved the photos, they bring alive the life and the enchanting natural beauty of the place in vivid colour.
Laura Nalin
Very cool pose! I didn’t know pineapples grew that way until a few years ago when I saw some on Maui. I am going to look through some of your Vietnam posts. It’s one of my favorite countries – my partner and I are actually planning on moving there in July! Loving all your photos =)
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Vietnam is also one of my favorite countries! I’m a little envious – we only spent 3 weeks there but we both felt it was a place where we could live. Good luck with your move!
TalesOfABackpacker
Haha I didn´t know pineapples grew like that till I saw some myself in South America last year 😉 I too usually tend to avoid tours but in situations like this they really are the best option! Sounds like you packed a lot in.
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Glad to know I’m not the only one! They’re just so cute! The tour was definitely the best option both for our wallets and our sanity. 🙂
Pack Your Baguios
What a great tour! I would have thought there would be more boats, too. I love all of the vegetation and bright colors! Pinning this for my hopefully future trip!
Neha Verma
Such a wonderful experience that you had. I particularly like the big laughing buddha followed by the sleeping buddha. Buddha seems to be a favorite here. Also, the ‘tip lady’ story made me smile..seems like a trend in many places across Asia
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We often encountered people like the ‘tip lady’ throughout Vietnam – it’s one of the negative aspects of traveling in this country. Most people who didn’t deal with tourists were really nice though.
WyldfamilyTravel
Vietnam always looks amazing. Its on out bucketlist for this year . My wife has chased down markets all around Europe i think she would enjoy a floating amarket
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Then your wife is going to love Asia as there are markets of all sorts everywhere – it’s one of the things I love most about traveling in that part of the world!
Travel Pockets
Sounds like such a fun experience. I am the same where sometimes I just don’t want to deal with all the negotiating and scams and will just give into a tour. Sometimes they are a little too touristy and cheesy, but you do meet other amazing travelers. Most of the time the experience doesn’t’ really end up being so bad. I loved all the photos you took. It really felt like I was there with you. I wish I could of heard that one guy singing 🙂
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The price was so unbeatable it was hard to resist not taking the tour! The guide was so proud of his singing…..makes me regret not filming him. 😉
Anne Slater-Brooks
I visited something like in Cambodia and it was definitely very interesting. This looks fabulous. I know what you mean about the scams
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Unfortunately as travelers we always seem to be on guard when it comes to scams but I guess it’s all part of the adventure. 🙂
Girlswanderlust
This sounds like a great few days and experience! Would love to experience the floating markets one time :-). Nice photos also!
Hot Foot Trini
Asia always has the best markets, don’t they? These markets in Vietnam look like fun. Would you ever visit that country again?
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Outdoor markets of any kind are one of the reasons why I really like traveling in Asia! I would definitely go back to Vietnam because we only had 3 weeks and we both feel like it really wasn’t enough.
Bhushavali
Even I hardly take up organized tours. I’ve been on only one in England where public transport wasn’t good and we didn’t have a vehicle! Looks like a good way to end a trip. Btw, the woven baskets look gorgeous!
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I’m really not a fan either but this tour was perfect for our weary selves. Unfortunately those baskets weren’t for sale but I also found them really pretty (and I love baskets)! I did buy a few in Hanoi just before leaving (didn’t want to be carrying them around for 3 weeks).
Marcie Wirtz Cheung
You got to do this for $18!?! Awesome! The colors in your photos are so vibrant! Thanks for sharing with us!
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Yup $18USD which was great for us back then because the Canadian dollar was equivalent to the US dollar (now it totally sucks!). This was almost 4 years ago so I don’t know if prices went up but it was an amazing deal!
Pete
As a Queenslander, pineapples are no surprise. I’m used to whole hillsides of them. Bananas, likewise; my grandfather had a banana farm up Eumundi way and he used us as free labour.
What do the dragon fruit taste like?
It all looks very lush and green and doubtless humid.
Had to lagh at your “tip money!” lady. Glad she did too.
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I personally don’t like the white interior dragon fruit (I find it very bland) but the red interior one is really good! Both look the same from the exterior but the red interior one is brighter on the outside. It’s hard to tell which is which though. We were in Vietnam in April/May so the heat and humidity were quite heavy.
Brooke
I have wanted to go to Vietnam for so many years. I’ll admit it’s in large part because I could live on nothing but Vietnamese food and be happy. My absolute fave Asian cuisine. It also used to be such a less visited part of Asia but of course like everything in this internet age now that everyone can see all the other people traveling to a place there are far more people going places that used to be off the beaten path. Glad you enjoyed your trip! Did you go to Sapa at all?
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Hi Brooke! Then you would be in heaven in Vietnam – you have to go! 😉
We did go to Sapa and really enjoyed it though it is quite touristic (like much of Vietnam). You can read about it on my blog post. 🙂