The floating markets are a very lively scene, accommodating much of the goods exchange throughout the area, and can be quite freely visited on board smaller boats for about US$3/hour per boat. You may take a tour from the Ninh Kiều pier, in front of Nam Bộ restaurant, where the "boat ladies" are charmingly eager to welcome you aboard. On sep 2011, starting prices is about 10$/20$ for 3h/7h tour with either one market + canal, either multiples markets + canal. It could be bargained down 7$/15$. Pay attention as there is an old pushy lady haunting riverside to sell boat tour. Best to get your tour directly from a boat driver.
Cai Rang (Cái Răng) floating market is the main wholesale floating market near Can Tho. Go there early (as early as 06:00), and come back through the small tributaries to Can Tho river; about 3-4 hours. The Mystic sampans offer higher-end breakfast cruises to Cai Rang floating market.
Phong Dien (Phong Điền) is further upstream the Can Tho river, and worth seeing as it is a retail market. It is very active at dawn, but slows down early too, so you may want to go there by land. The arroyos back to Can Tho are also very much worth a ride on a small boat.
Phung Hiep (Phụng Hiệp) is much farther away, in the neighboring Hậu Giang province, but deserves a trip if you are going to stay more than a few days, as it is always bustling with activity.
Tra On (Trà Ôn), in Vinh Long province, is just over an hour downstream the Bassac (the lower Mekong branch, also called Hậu Giang or Sông Hậu). It is a small floating village's market anchored near the clouds' island (Cù Lao Mây).
The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Can Tho
Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Can Tho - updated May 2024
SAVE up to 75% on Last Minute deals! Search for discount Can Tho hotels, motels, apartments, hostels, guest accommodations and vacation resorts. Book now and pay at the hotel. Instant email confirmation!
Can Tho Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.
