Cai Be Floating Market
Cai Be Floating Market
3.5
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
The potted flowers ranging from daisies to marigolds and to lien (Torenia fournieri) among others that you see in the photo are in the flower market section of the Cai Be Floating Market in Cai Be District in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang. Cai Be holds the top position in orchard areas in Tien Giang Province. On ordinary days, a large section of the Tien River is vibrant with boats filled with fruits, vegetables, flowers and other products. It is even more colorful during special events like full moon days or Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year). During the days, there is only a small number of boats carrying flowers on the Tien River. However the number increases over the following days and the market bustles with various kinds of flowers. At this time, barges full of fruits and vegetables temporarily cede "territory" to boats carrying different kinds of flowers. Flowers are seen along the banks of the river, bobbing on the floating dock, covering the boat roof-tops and overflowing to the street markets. Going to the floating market on these days, you can see the busy rhythm of the life of people living on the river and the unique features of the Mekong Delta. This is also the most beautiful time at the Cai Be Floating Market, attracting many tourists. There is always a forest of flowers and people during market- days. The river becomes busy with boats carrying people, including buyers, sellers and visitors. The bright colors of the apricot flowers, daisies, roses and marigolds swinging on boats and junks bring a premature spring to the riverside hamlets and people.
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3.5
454 reviews
Excellent
78
Very good
153
Average
125
Poor
65
Terrible
33
TriciaBishop
Bradford, UK1,695 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
It was nice to see the market though iy was quiet when we were there. I think I was more fascinated by the stilt houses at the side if the river. The lovely thing is how friendly everyone is, waving as you pass by. It seems to be a hard way of life.
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
omega132857
Chichester, UK1,981 contributions
Feb 2020
Had been looking forward to the floating market after seeing a few on tv. It just as you see it. Plenty of boats selling there products, mainly fresh vegetables, fish hot food coconuts, etc. It looks chaotic but everyone knows what to do. It's a great photo opportunity to see this wonderful river boat market.
Written 1 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MekongRustic
Can Tho, Vietnam296 contributions
Jun 2015 • Family
We are located near Cai Be floating Market and some travelers sent us more requests about visiting Cai Be floating Market and some travelers were disappointed with Cai Be floating Market.
The first thing, travelers usually use guidebook and search old information in online travel guidebook and pictures about Cai Be floating Market but they were still out of date's information. Cai Be floating Market now is not like in the pictures which travelers searching on google or in guidebook.
The second thing, the roads thru islands and remote areas are built with very smooth and more space so some fruits buyers can access directly to gardens and buy all fruits gardens so local people do not need to bring fruits to floating market to sell.
The third thing, Cai Be floating market is whole sales market so all fruits selling there will transfer to another destination like Saigon and Hanoi. They need to keep the quality of fruits so they decide to transfer by road and access to garden to cut fruits which keep the fruits with the best quality.
The last thing, local people will be easy to use bike, motorbike instead of boats so travelers will not see more boats and more fruits in Cai Be floating market like Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho or Long Xuyen or Thailand.
We recommend travelers should do more activities with local people and experience the difference like cook local foods, catch fish, gardening, make cake, grow vegetable, cycling to the kinder garden and make friends with local childen and try to make the handmade conical hats...than expected many things from floating market.
Mekong Rustic
The first thing, travelers usually use guidebook and search old information in online travel guidebook and pictures about Cai Be floating Market but they were still out of date's information. Cai Be floating Market now is not like in the pictures which travelers searching on google or in guidebook.
The second thing, the roads thru islands and remote areas are built with very smooth and more space so some fruits buyers can access directly to gardens and buy all fruits gardens so local people do not need to bring fruits to floating market to sell.
The third thing, Cai Be floating market is whole sales market so all fruits selling there will transfer to another destination like Saigon and Hanoi. They need to keep the quality of fruits so they decide to transfer by road and access to garden to cut fruits which keep the fruits with the best quality.
The last thing, local people will be easy to use bike, motorbike instead of boats so travelers will not see more boats and more fruits in Cai Be floating market like Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho or Long Xuyen or Thailand.
We recommend travelers should do more activities with local people and experience the difference like cook local foods, catch fish, gardening, make cake, grow vegetable, cycling to the kinder garden and make friends with local childen and try to make the handmade conical hats...than expected many things from floating market.
Mekong Rustic
Written 28 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kamila F
185 contributions
Jun 2018 • Couples
Don t waste your time! The whole day trip from HCMC to see the floating market which DOESN'T EXIST ANYMORE!! The pics that you can find on google are either very old OR from the other markets in the south of Mekong delta! Right now there are JUST FEW big BOATS where poor ppl live on! There was ONE boat full of fruits waiting especially for tourists !!! Trying to sell something. It was very comercial. Nothing special! I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY TOUR COMPANIES ARE STILL TAKING PPL THERE?!? Ohh I know, to charge you only for the transportation!
Written 19 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BallaghMan
Carrboro, NC234 contributions
Mar 2015 • Couples
I've read the rather lukewarm reviews of the Mekong delta experience. And I would say it depends on what you want to get out of it, yes it's a two hour drive, a bit tedious. But it's a wonderful glimpse into life on one of the major river deltas of the world. This is truly a historic and highly cultural complex environment, humans in harmony with the water in life and in work and in family and social activities. Plus you get to relax with a nice breeze after the drive and enjoy some great photo ops. To complain about the price of fruit, or that they float you there to buy it misses the point competely. These people survive on trade, and tourists are but one part of their trading business on the river. And after all, they have been oppressed, bombed on, conquered, converted and exploited over the centuries. Who would begrudge them a bit of respite from all that war now? Peaceful friendly tourists are just what they need. And they ARE as friendly as all the other people in Vietnam.
Written 25 March 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Trackerh
Peterlee, UK656 contributions
Mar 2012 • Couples
Day 1 of our Mekong Delta River Cruise on the Ama Lotus, was a small boat ride to here and, around the floating market, found the place fascinating small areas where they make toffee, salt, rice corn, and snake whisky, as well as the little flower Market where you can buy anything from a rose to a bouquet of flowers. They also sell beautiful hand painted oil paintings and we bought one to remind us of this beautiful country, I wouldn't say I would spend a long holiday here but a trip through it is a fantastic way of seeing how the Vietnamese people get on with there busy lives and can make things from virtually nothing.
Written 29 March 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
irina j
London, UK3,555 contributions
Apr 2023 • Family
This is mainly wholesale market and key tourist attraction in Mekong Delta. There are lots of barges that bring their produce for sale. They normally have fruit or vegetable they are selling attached to the pole in front of the boat so everyone can see. There were barges full of pumpkins, watermelons, squashes etc.
I was hoping there will be more there for the tourists e.g.being able to buy from sellers. We saw only couple of floating cafes where you could climb on board and have pineapple.
The nearest village where we got off was very dirty to be honest. They throw everything into the water. The guide said that government now provides bins etc but it’s just easier to throw garbage out of your window. This made me sad as all this rubbish will end up in the river and then in the ocean!
I was hoping there will be more there for the tourists e.g.being able to buy from sellers. We saw only couple of floating cafes where you could climb on board and have pineapple.
The nearest village where we got off was very dirty to be honest. They throw everything into the water. The guide said that government now provides bins etc but it’s just easier to throw garbage out of your window. This made me sad as all this rubbish will end up in the river and then in the ocean!
Written 23 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Steffi A
55 contributions
Apr 2018 • Couples
There is no floating market in Cai Be. If you want to see about 6 big boats floating in the river, than that's the right adress for you - otherwise you should absolutely not go there. On the picture you see the "Cai be floating market". One woman told us, most longtail market boats moved to Can Tho.
Written 4 April 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah T
1 contribution
May 2016 • Family
Travelled 2 hours by bus from ho chi minh city to the mekong delta river today to go on a boat and look at the floating markets, see some people selling honey and making candy. Thought the river was really boring given nothing interesting to see (markets essentially boats and shacks on water- nothing new) no nice views and our lunch was also the worst food we've eaten in vietnam (which has been great up to now!). Guide was good and seeing candy/puffed rice/rice paper made was interesting to a degree but not worth the 4 hour bus ride! Much better things out there to see I'm sure
Written 28 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BadOrNice
Rome, Italy22 contributions
Apr 2014
Dear Viet,
this market (Cai Be) is to forget and cancel from the excursions offered.
A long140 km x 2 ways (3,5 hours by car each way), killing hot temperature no-breathing, "adventure" accomodation (which is good if the things to see have a sense), all this to see what? the smallest 50 sleeping boat market (10 minutes, 2 rounds to make it longer) no human activity on the river, the only thing floating on the river were plants.
Than, from Can Tho there is a flight to Phu Quoc at 15:50 and this would have us save a lot of time (now I'm writing, the tour is finished 45 minutes ago, and it is only 09:07) .
Yesterday there where hundred of homestays and tours available to Can Tho (on the web and the same confirmed by different guides).
This excursion has to be cancelled as it is, no reason to go, too tiring and wasting time.
This is what I have to inform you, your correspondant should have known it, so I think that he is not a good agency to work with.
In general I think that south doesn't worth (but if someone wants to go the only to see is Can Tho (it is also so much full of tourist but at least you see a real market).
Best
Leo
this market (Cai Be) is to forget and cancel from the excursions offered.
A long140 km x 2 ways (3,5 hours by car each way), killing hot temperature no-breathing, "adventure" accomodation (which is good if the things to see have a sense), all this to see what? the smallest 50 sleeping boat market (10 minutes, 2 rounds to make it longer) no human activity on the river, the only thing floating on the river were plants.
Than, from Can Tho there is a flight to Phu Quoc at 15:50 and this would have us save a lot of time (now I'm writing, the tour is finished 45 minutes ago, and it is only 09:07) .
Yesterday there where hundred of homestays and tours available to Can Tho (on the web and the same confirmed by different guides).
This excursion has to be cancelled as it is, no reason to go, too tiring and wasting time.
This is what I have to inform you, your correspondant should have known it, so I think that he is not a good agency to work with.
In general I think that south doesn't worth (but if someone wants to go the only to see is Can Tho (it is also so much full of tourist but at least you see a real market).
Best
Leo
Written 25 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbie A
Miami, Florida
Hello! I was wondering what clothing is recommended to visit the Cai Be markets? Are mosquitoes a problem? Thank you!
Written 6 June 2019
We went in February, so shorts & t shirt were fine. We had no problems with mosquitoes but you can always spray yourself with Deet.
Written 6 June 2019
Hi, may I ask you at which time of the day you were there at Cai Be floating market?
Thanks, Christa
Written 1 September 2018
We got to Cai Be floating market around 10 am - as previous reviews have noted there is not much action still going on at that time. We still thoroughly enjoyed the day but if you want to see a busy larger market stay in Can Tho and take the 5:30 am tour.
Written 2 September 2018
Hallo, ich kann Phon Diem nirgends finden, Ich bin im April dort und würde dort gerne mal hin.
Danke
Achim
Written 9 March 2018
Hallo sorry wir haben Vietnam nur einen Tag mit AIDA besucht. Und auch den Ausflug über Aida gebucht. Daher kann ich keine Auskunft hierüber geben.
Grüssle
Written 10 March 2018
Pouzik
Vancouver, Canada
My family and I will be in Ho Chi Minh at the end of December, and we were planning to take a day tour to see the Mekong river and of course the floating market! I wanted to see if anyone knows if the floating market will be open during this time (December 29-30), as I've heard it isn't open year round.
My second question is, since we are a family of four and it is during a busy time of the year, is it recommended to book a tour in advance online, or do you think we will be fine finding one in our hotel and/or other vendors once we arrive in Ho Chih Minh?
Thank you!
Written 21 November 2016
Pouzik
Vancouver, Canada
Thank you Beyondthestars. As we have a some days in Ho Chi Minh, I think we will try to book it once we are in the city. Would hate to go all the way to Cai Be only to learn it is closed!
Written 28 November 2016
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