P3816DGmeganp
18 Sep 2024
We had an unforgettable day tour of the Cai Rang Floating Market, starting bright and early at 3:30 AM when our guide picked us up from our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. After a three-hour drive to Can Tho, we met Hien, our local guide, who was absolutely exceptional. Not only was she incredibly knowledgeable, providing fascinating insights into the history of the river, the people of the region, and local foods, but she also helped make the day even more special.
Once we boarded our small boat, we ventured out onto the river to witness the vibrant floating market, where we got to try delicious *bánh mì*, noodles, and fresh fruits. From there, we explored the serene canals of the Mekong Delta, which felt worlds away from the typical tourist areas—calm, authentic, and full of local life.
One of the highlights was our visit to a noodle factory, a fish farm, and a small local village, where we enjoyed a variety of local dishes like fish cake, *bánh khọt*, mud crab hot pot, and steamed rice cake with fresh coconut milk. Every bite was a new experience, and the food was truly a reflection of the region’s culinary richness.
Hien went above and beyond as our guide—she was also an amazing photographer, helping us capture so many wonderful moments. She even guided us in finding local specialties like *nem chua* and *huyết*, which we were excited to try. To top it off, she taught us useful Vietnamese phrases, making us feel more connected to the locals.
Once we completed all of our site seeing we were driven back to our hotel, ending our day around roughly 545pm.
This tour was incredibly authentic, far from the typical touristy experience, and it gave us a deeper understanding of the region. If you’re looking for a unique and immersive adventure, I highly recommend this tour—Hien made all the difference!
This was a wonderful tour! We agreed it was an excellent way to get outside of HCMC for a day to experience a different style of life in Vietnam.
Our driver arrived precisely at our arranged pickup time and we had a comfortable, safe drive to Can Tho. We had to wake up early, but we agreed it was worth the early wake-up to see the market in the morning when it is lively. Our guide Nga was charming and knowledgeable, and she welcomed us as though we were old friends.
We did a variety of activities after the market, such as visiting a fish farm, seeing a rice noodle factory, and going to a local restaurant where we made jackfruit cakes. It was a busy but entertaining day.
A few things of note- first, we feel that this was as much a food tour as a sightseeing tour. We tried a variety of different fruits, soups, and cakes. We were very full when we were finished, and also took some fruit back to HCMC with us, so arrive for this tour with an appetite!
We would also like to mention that this tour requires guests to step in and out of boats on multiple occasions, and guests who have issues with their knees, backs, or balance issues may have a slight amount of difficulty with this part of the trip. Our guide was very helpful, but this trip may be uncomfortable for some. There was also a small amount of walking, maybe 1km or 2km total or so.
Overall, we were thrilled with this tour. We thought we paid a fair price, and we did a lot for our money. We left the city at 4:00am and arrived at 4:00pm, so we still had time to enjoy an evening in the city upon our return. Thank you for a wonderful day!