12 HOURS IN CẦN THƠ: VIETNAM’S CAI RANG FLOATING MARKETS
12 HOURS IN CẦN THƠ: VIETNAM’S CAI RANG FLOATING MARKETS
Where entire villages rise before sunrise and daily rituals unfold before your eyes — Cái Răng Floating Market is the pulse of the Mekong Delta. Taking place every day for centuries, it offers a visually poetic glimpse into the lives of locals, where the river stands as a symbol of community, agriculture, and living tradition — because here, life isn’t shaped around the water, it simply flows with it.
THE CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE MEKONG DELTA RIVER
Long before roads or bridges were built, the Mekong River was the thread that tied regions together, carrying stories of generations and cultural significance. Spanning more than 4,000km, the river begins in the Tibetan Plateau and travels through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and lastly, through Vietnam.
Families, farmers and entire villages rely on the river to nourish rice fields, connect neighbouring villages and for the transportation of goods. It supports the rhythm of daily life, linking communities through floating markets, waterways, and the fertile ecosystems that depend entirely on its flow.
CÁI RĂNG FLOATING MARKET
Vietnam’s largest and busiest floating market operates every day, all year round, and comes to life at 5am. Farmers arrive with boats overflowing with pineapples, watermelons, papaya, rambutan and bon bon, selling their fresh produce at wholesale. You’ll spot their vessels from afar where each farmer hoists their fruit on tall bamboo poles so buyers can see what they’re offering from a distance.
Smaller boats weave through the river with aunties serving steaming bowls of phở, freshly baked bánh mì, and cà phê sữa đá sweetened with condensed milk. The scene is wonderfully chaotic.
HOW I SPENT 12 HOURS IN CẦN THƠ
Cần Thơ was my third stop in Vietnam, travelling from Phú Quốc — Vietnam’s own little island paradise. My housemate Bec and I caught a ferry to the mainland and took a 6 hour van through tiny roadside villages, endless rice paddies and stretches of lush green countryside.
We arrived late afternoon and found our homestay tucked down a narrow laneway, run by two friends, a Vietnamese and a Belgian guy. I asked if they knew anyone who could take us to the markets the next morning, and by pure luck, they caught their local boat driver just before he left the pier for the day. The stars truly aligned for us.
For dinner, they recommend a spot with no signage, multi-coloured plastics, and full of locals, perfect! We ordered a dish we saw arrive at another table — Bò Lá Lốt, one of Southern Vietnam’s specialties. Grilled minced beef wrapped in lá lốt (wild betel leaves), fragrant and slightly peppery, served with bún (rice noodles), fresh herbs, lettuce, and wrapped in square rice paper sheets, then dipped into a tangy fermented sauce. This dish lives rent-free in my mind.
The next morning at 5am, our host kindly took Bec and me to the pier to meet Uncle, our boat driver. We set off in complete darkness, cruising along the river with the sky slowly softening behind us. By 5:45am, we reached the floating market, which was already alive and buzzing. Here, wooden boats turned into kitchens where Uncle handed us two hot bowls of phở, garnished with fresh tomatoes, bean sprouts, coriander and hoisin, followed by two ice lattes, passed from boat to boat.
After brekkie, Uncle took us through quiet canals lined with wooden stilt houses to see another side of local life on the Mekong Delta. We stopped at a rice noodle workshop where sheets of steamed rice paper were laid out to dry and cut into vermicelli. Getting to experience a part of daily life here in Cần Thơ without the crowds or the big groups meant we could see the floating market as locals do — vibrant, buzzing and beautifully woven into the rhythm of daily life.
WHY I’D RECOMMEND STAYING IN CAN THO (RATHER THAN A DAY TRIP)
Staying a night or two in Cần Thơ lets you experience the city in a way a rushed day trip can’t. It supports local businesses, gives you time to explore beyond the markets, eat local specialties, wander quieter neighbourhoods and genuinely feel the charm and authenticity of the Mekong Delta.
By sunrise, the river is filled with locals buying produce; by late morning, it shifts into a much more touristy scene. A day trip from Ho Chi Minh City often means long drives, crowded boats, and a schedule that feels more rushed than meaningful — missing the magic of Cần Thơ.
CONCLUSION
For an experience that feels deeply local and culturally rich, an overnight trip to Cần Thơ became one of the highlights of my month in Vietnam. It’s where the calm meets the chaos, and a sunrise over the river, watching daily life unfold, is the perfect cherry on top.
Deeply connected to the land, water and living tradition, Cần Thơ reflects the warmth of Southern Vietnam in every small gesture. A simple, soulful glimpse into the true heart of the Mekong Delta.
HOW TO GET THERE
Flight
Cần Thơ has a small but well-connected airport (VCA) with domestic flights from major hubs:
From Ho Chi Minh City - 45 minutes direct
Da Lat - 45 minutes
Phú Quốc - 1 hour
Hanoi - 2 hours
Da Nang - 1 hour 30 minutes
Search for flights to Cần Thơ.
Bus
Ho Chi Minh CitytoCần Thơ - 3.5 - 4 hours
Tip: I booked all my buses and trains in Vietnam online through 12GoAsia — super easy to use and reliable.
