Cai Be

Deep in the rice paddies of the Mekong Delta, you can visit the bustling floating river market at Cai Be. The riverfront village is a major hub for the farmers, wholesalers and buyers who congregate here into a raft of produce-laden longtail boats, and the agricultural products bought and sold at this market are distributed throughout the country. Many vendors specialize in just a handful of fruits of vegetables, which they advertise with samples tied atop wooden poles. You can visit the market as part of a boat tour from nearby Vinh Long. Along the riverbank near the market, you can see a picturesque Catholic cathedral, and it’s worth exploring the village and strolling paths along the area’s numerous side canals.

Practical Info

The boat ride from Vinh Long to the floating market takes about one hour, and you can visit farms and explore island and side branches of the river along the way. It’s a two-hour drive to Vinh Long from Ho Chi Minh City, and morning is the best time to visit the market.