Cai Be Floating Market, a distinctive cultural icon of the Mekong Delta, is not only a bustling trading hub but also an attractive tourist destination. It captivates visitors with its rustic charm and vibrant riverine life. Coming to Cai Be Floating Market, you will not only witness the unique market scene but also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the traditional trading culture of the hospitable people of the Mekong Delta. Let’s explore the unforgettable experiences at this special floating market.
Where is Cai Be Floating Market? The “Golden” Location of the Mekong Delta
Cai Be Floating Market is located on the Tien River section, in Cai Be town, Cai Be district, Tien Giang province. What’s special is that this floating market is situated at the intersection of three provinces: Tien Giang, Ben Tre, and Vinh Long, creating an extremely bustling and crowded trading area. With this prime location, Cai Be Floating Market naturally became one of the three largest wholesale markets in the Mekong Delta region, alongside Cai Rang Floating Market (Can Tho) and Nga Bay Floating Market (Hau Giang). Therefore, Cai Be Floating Market is always crowded with boats, diverse goods ranging from fresh seafood, lush garden fruits to household items, necessities, and even Mekong Delta specialties.
A panoramic view of Cai Be Floating Market on the Tien River, Tien Giang province, Vietnam
Directions to Cai Be Floating Market, Tien Giang
To get to Cai Be Floating Market, visitors have many transportation options, from motorbikes and private cars to passenger buses. However, the most interesting and memorable experience is probably exploring the floating market by motorbike. If you are someone who loves freedom and wants to actively discover the beauty of the Mekong Delta waterways, a motorbike will be your ideal companion.
Exploring Cai Be Floating Market by motorbike, an exciting backpacking experience
From the center of Ho Chi Minh City, the distance to Cai Be Floating Market is about 80km. You can travel according to the following route:
- Starting from Ho Chi Minh City: Go along Kinh Duong Vuong street, then turn onto National Highway 1A.
- Continue on National Highway 1A: When you reach the intersection with Vo Van Kiet street, turn right onto Vo Van Kiet street.
- Turn onto Provincial Road 875: From Vo Van Kiet street, find the road to turn onto Provincial Road 875.
- Follow Provincial Road 875: Continue on Provincial Road 875 until you meet Trung Nu Vuong street.
- Turn onto Trung Nu Vuong street: Drive a short distance further, and you will reach Cai Be Floating Market.
In addition, if you want to travel by passenger bus, there are many reputable bus operators running the Ho Chi Minh City – Cai Be route. You can easily buy tickets at major bus stations such as Mien Tay Bus Station and ask the bus to stop at the Cai Be Floating Market area.
The Best Time to Visit Cai Be Floating Market
Each time of day, Cai Be Floating Market has its own beauty and attraction. Depending on your preferences and desired experiences, you can choose the most suitable time to visit.
- Early morning (from 5 am to 8 am): This is the busiest and most vibrant time at Cai Be Floating Market. As dawn breaks, the entire market bursts into life with hundreds of boats bustling with trading. If you want to witness firsthand the bustling exchange of goods and admire the typical trading scene on the water, early morning is the ideal time. This is also when the freshest agricultural products and fruits are concentrated. Note that the market usually disperses around 8 am, so you should arrive early so you don’t miss out on the most exciting experiences.
Cai Be Floating Market in the early morning, bustling trading atmosphere
Boats filled with agricultural products at Cai Be Floating Market in the morning
- Afternoon (from 4 pm onwards): If you love peace, tranquility, and want to admire the romantic sunset scenery on the water, the afternoon is a suitable time to visit the floating market. As the afternoon sun gradually fades, the atmosphere of the floating market becomes gentler and more poetic. You can leisurely stroll by boat on the river, admire the peaceful daily life of people on boats, and enjoy the beautiful sunset moments. Especially, when night falls, the entire floating market lights up, creating a shimmering and magical scene, carrying a bit of melancholy and romance typical of the river region.
Sunset over Cai Be Floating Market, peaceful and romantic scenery
Cai Be Floating Market at night, shimmering lights on the water
Boats moored at Cai Be Floating Market in the night lights
What is Special About Cai Be Floating Market? Must-Try Experiences
Cai Be Floating Market is not just a trading market, but also a vivid picture of the culture and life of the people of the river region. Coming here, you will experience special and unique things that you can’t find anywhere else.
- Unique Trading Culture: Cai Be Floating Market still retains the typical cultural activities of markets in the Mekong Delta. Instead of selling on land, all trading activities take place on boats. Each boat carries a different type of goods, from fruits, vegetables, agricultural products to clothes and household items. To make it easy for buyers to recognize the goods, boat owners often hang “beo” – that is, hanging samples of goods on tall poles. For example, boats selling sweet potatoes will hang sweet potatoes, boats selling watermelons hang watermelons… This is a very unique and effective form of advertising and product identification of the floating market.
Unique "beo" advertising at Cai Be Floating Market, a distinctive way of product promotion
- Rent a Boat to Explore the Floating Market: To fully explore the beauty and bustling atmosphere of Cai Be Floating Market, you can rent a boat to stroll around the market. There are two popular types of boats: large boats and sampans. Large boats can accommodate 10 to 15 people, suitable for large groups or families, rental prices range from 500,000 – 800,000 VND. Small, charming sampans, typical of the Mekong Delta, are suitable for small groups of 3-5 people, rental prices are cheaper, around 150,000 – 200,000 VND. In addition, you can also buy package tickets to visit the floating market combined with nearby tourist attractions such as traditional craft villages, fruit gardens and enjoy “Don ca tai tu” (Southern Vietnamese folk music).
Tourists rent a boat to explore Cai Be Floating Market
- Paradise of Orchard Fruits: Cai Be Floating Market is famous as the largest fruit granary of Tien Giang province and the Mekong Delta region. Coming here, you will be overwhelmed by countless fresh and delicious fruits, specialties of the Mekong Delta such as green-skinned grapefruit, Lo Ren star apples, Cai Be tangerines, Hoa Loc mangoes, rambutans, mangosteens… Cai Be Floating Market not only supplies fruits to provinces and cities across the country but is also a place where traders from neighboring provinces such as Vinh Long, Ho Chi Minh City, Ca Mau… come to collect goods.
Fresh and delicious fruits, Mekong Delta specialties at Cai Be Floating Market
- Street Food on the River: Not only fruits and agricultural products, Cai Be Floating Market is also a unique street food paradise. Small boats weave through the large boats, serving tourists and market-goers familiar breakfast dishes and drinks such as “Banh uot” (steamed rice rolls), “Hu tieu” (rice noodle soup), pork congee, “Banh canh” (thick noodle soup), “Bun rieu” (crab noodle soup), coffee, iced tea… What could be better than enjoying a hot breakfast on the vast river, watching the bustling floating market scene and feeling the peaceful rhythm of life of the Mekong Delta people.
Enjoying street food on the river at Cai Be Floating Market
Tourists enjoying morning coffee on a boat at Cai Be Floating Market
- Mud Bathing on the Islet (Cu Lao): Another unique experience that you can discover at Cai Be Floating Market is mud bathing on the islet. During low tide (from 1 pm to 4 pm), sandbars emerge in the middle of the river. People from nearby islets, especially locals, often flock to bathe in the mud. Hundreds of boats bustling back and forth, creating an extremely lively and interesting scene on the river.
Locals mud bathing on a river islet near Cai Be Floating Market
Conclusion: Cai Be Floating Market – A Must-Visit Destination in Tien Giang
Cai Be Floating Market is not only a famous tourist destination of Tien Giang but also a unique cultural symbol of the Mekong Delta. With its unique experiences and vibrant atmosphere, Cai Be Floating Market will surely bring you unforgettable memories on your journey to explore the Mekong Delta. If you have the opportunity to visit Tien Giang, don’t miss the chance to experience Cai Be Floating Market, immerse yourself in the riverine life, and discover the traditional cultural beauty of this peaceful countryside.