If you are wondering where the best place to buy things in Can Tho city is, the answer will be at Can Tho markets. This Southern Vietnam city is one of a few locales having markets on land, on water and at night. Let’s follow the Local Travel Idea in this writing to find out yourself an ideal and reliable address for trading.
Cai Rang floating market - Top most famous Can Tho markets
Cai Rang floating market - Source: onetouchmedia
Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho is located on a creek of Hau river, about 6km from the city center. The most convenient way to reach here is by traveling by boat from Ninh Kieu wharf. (Hai Ba Trung street, Tay An ward, Ninh Kieu district). It is unknown when the market was formed, it is for certain that it was for the essential need of the local people due to the life associated with rivers. Unlike inland markets, The floating market of Cai Rang often gathers very soon, at 5am and starts to disperse at 8 to 9 am.
The most amazing thing about all floating Can Tho markets is hanging good on “cay beo”. Because the atmosphere here is so noisy, the chaos between the sound of sellers and buyers and the canoe’s engine, people need a visual solution to inform customers of their goods, “cay beo” is therefore invented. This is actually a tool with a bamboo tree as the main material. The “shop” owner hangs their goods on one end of the tree and sticks the other end in the river bed so that the guests can notice them from faraway.
Not only the most famous Can Tho markets, Cai Rang is the largest floating market in the Mekong River Delta, merchandise here is therefore very diverse. Being here at Can Tho floating market Vietnam, you can find almost everything, especially agriculture products, tropical fruits, handicrafts and foods. A day experiencing at Cai Rang floating market will bring you unique moments. For instance, if you want to have a bowl of noodle soup, there will be no decent table or chair, sometimes only a wooden fiber put across boats is considered ideal to serve the dish.
- Address: Le Binh ward, Cai Rang district, Can Tho city
Phong Dien floating market - one of the top Can Tho markets
Phong Dien floating market - Source: tinhte
Phong Dien floating market emerged as a new attractive stopover in Can Tho city. The market opens quite early in the morning and is mostly bustling at 7 to 8am. Phong Dien market keeps trading until afternoon because not only are agricultural products sold here, but there is also household stuff and manufacturing tools.
This is one of the Can Tho floating markets that open all day. Visitors have more time to admire the serene beauty of the market with small boats laden with pickaxe, shovel, trowel, basketwork. Anyone who once visited Cai Rang will realize the difference between the two floating Can Tho markets. Apart from produce, manual tools, this market features petroleum stations, department stores, mobile tailor’s “shop”, machinery repair shops, no less than anywhere on land.
However, the strength of Phong Dien floating market is still orchard products. There are countless types of fruits displayed and traded here. They are mango, guava, plum, banana, durian, to name but a few. Besides, processed foods are abundant here, too. One special case is coffee, which is also a specialty of the market. Sipping a cup of phin coffee while admiring the pristine scenery of the river in the early morning is a peaceful moment of life.
Being on top of the most worth-visiting Can Tho markets, Phong Dien floating market is one of the stopovers in the itinerary of Can Tho tours. If you would like to take some Can Tho floating market tours, here are some tour providers you can refer to:
Nu Cuoi Mekong:
- Can Tho market tour price: 390,000 VND/person
- Contact: 02923730493
Mekong Sun Travel:
- Can Tho floating market tour price: 390,000 VND/person
- Contact: 0939 555 949 - 0939 555 838 - 0907 275 550
- Address: Provincial Road 923, Nhon Loc village, Nhon ai commune, Phong Dien district, Can Tho city
Tay Do night market
Tay Do night mảket - Source: wiki-travel
Among top most famous and oldest Can Tho markets, Tay Do night market (also known as Luc Tinh market or Can Tho ancient market) was formed in 1915. The name Luc Tinh (6 provinces) market originated from the fact that it was the commercial hub of six provinces in Southern Vietnam. With the same lifespan as Ben Thanh market in Ho Chi Minh city, the Tay Do Can Tho market is still a historic witness as well as a symbol of Can Tho city.
Tourists will be surprised by the impressive Southeast Asian architecture of the market. The work has a tiled roof which was commonly used in building ancient Vietnamese houses. This is one of the best night Can Tho markets to visit. At night, the whole roof was brightly lit by thousands of lights. Tay Do night market at the time turns to a sparkling construction by the Hau river.
There are a myriad of special dishes like grilled fish, fish noodle soup, vermicelli with sauce,... Foods are all fresh, processed right at the stall, giving out a tempting fragrance, which can provoke the taste bud of any foodie. Besides, the outer space of the market is packed with small shops selling souvenirs, clothes and handicrafts. From conical hát, lanterns to Ba Ba dress, all of which are typical features of people in this river area. You can buy some as a gift for people at home.
Another thing that can make you fall in love with one of the best Can Tho markets in Tay Do is the view of Ninh Kieu wharf. It is only dozens of steps to travel between two destinations, so it is a good chance to contemplate the simmering wharf while enjoying delicious foods. Note that this market is open from 5pm to 11pm everyday, you can take a look around other destinations in the city before paying a visit here.
- Address: Hai Ba Trung street, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city
Ninh Kieu night market - Top Can Tho night market
Ninh Kieu night market - Source: @Thang Le
Ninh Kieu night market is one of the most famous Can Tho markets that attracts a great number of visitors everyday. This destination is located right near Ninh Kieu park, you can combine wandering around the park and shopping and eating at the market. Goods trading here vary in types from clothes, shoes, souvenirs, snacks. Rice paper grilled, grilled chicken feet,... all favorite snacks of visitors.
The layout of the dishes is very attractive with a good combination in color, making them tempting and irresistible to every eater. In particular, fruit parfait is a delicious and eye-catching dish at a reasonable price.
Among top most popular Can Tho markets, Ninh Kieu is truly a top commercial center for those who want to get some clothing items. There, you can buy anything to wear, from pijamas, menswear, womenswear to footwear. What makes it unique is the existence of somes shops selling bespoke T-shirts. You can have your clothes printed with the picture you like within a couple of hours at this famous Can Tho market.
- Address: Corner of Hai Ba Trung street - Nguyen Thai Hoc street - Ninh Kieu wharf, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city
Tran Phu night market
Tran Phu night market - Source: Jackie Phương
While Tay Do and Ninh Kieu are 2 close Can Tho markets, Tran Phu night market stretches from Tran Phu street to Hau river park and a part of Can Tho museum. Currently, Ninh Kieu - Tay Do - Tran Phu have formed a triangle of the most attractive night markets of the city. Tran Phu night market in Can Tho is said by indigenous people and tourists as a vibrant food street. Every night, a series of seafood, grilled hotpot shops cluster into chains along both sides of the road, magneting visitors to come and enjoy.
Like other night Can Tho markets, the delicacies that must be mentioned are various species of fishes, octopus, shrimp, squid and different types of snails at reasonable prices. Therefore, you can feel free to taste all the seafood at this Can Tho night market. Top recommended ones are grilled oysters with onion, grilled snails with pepper, and grilled squids with mustard sauce. Apart from that, fruits, fast food, and beverages are not bad choices if you have an ambition to sample all the specialties of the South of Vietnam.
- Address: Tran Phu street, Cai Khe ward, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city
Xuan Khanh market - one of the oldest Can Tho markets
This is one of the most long-standing local markets in Can Tho city. Although the scale is not so substantial, Xuan Khanh market can well cater for the demand of the local people and the neighborhood. Products here are spoken highly of for their freshness and good quality. Moreover, the market is likened to a happy business place because traders are really nice. Their motto is “amicable sale”. Visitors can reach here to buy Can Tho specialties, too. This market operates from 5am to 7pm everyday.
- Address: No.12-22 Dien Bien Phu street, Tan An ward, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city
An Binh market - famous fruit Can Tho market
An Binh market - Source: @ Tùng Hà
Compared to other Can Tho markets, An Binh is not a big and famous one. It is comprehensible because its main function is to provide fruits, vegetables and local food. If you come across the area from 7am to 7pm, you may realize its structure which is composed of 2 lines of kiosks, one facing the road while the other heading the river. Agricultural products are recommended for the tourists once visiting the place. The back of the market is an anchorage of several boats and ships where you can hire one to visit the Cai Rang market.
- Address: Provincial Road 923, An Binh ward, Ninh Kieu district, Can Tho city
After a deeper understanding about these 7 most popular Can Tho markets, have you made up your mind of which one is most proper for your trip. If you find it too hard to take a side, what’s about visiting them all? You are sure to have different experiences about this land and its humans.
— Ha Bich
