Floating markets - the uniqueness of mekong delta

Mekong Delta area is the largest rice growing region in Vietnam which always covered with green rice paddies, orchads coconuts, mangos, pineapples, bananas and oranges. It is also the only region in Vietnam where riverboats and sampans are the main means of transportation due to low-lying, soft soil condition and dense system of rivers and canals. Also because of dense rivers and canals system, the uniqueness of Mekong Delta – floating markets are created to supply the demands of trading of local people. Gradually, it becomes attractive places for tourists when they travel to Mekong Delta area. South Vietnam tours

The Cai Rang floating market, the most facsinating and largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta, starts around 5:00 am and runs until mid-day, however, it could be more interesting if you visit it before 9:00 am. Some historians say that it has been operating since early 1900s during the Nguyen dynasty. It means that this market has become a must in the life of local people for a long time. If you don’t want to discover this market by yourself, don’t worry because a day tour to Cai Rang floating market is the most popular Mekong tour from Ho Chi Minh city. Talking about the distance of 6km from Can Tho or about 30-minute boat ride, you will have a glimpse about life along shores. You’ll see vibrantly painted boats anchored along the shore, merchant vessels carrying loads down the river or houses built on stilts over waterface. Once you reach the market, it’s an impressive site. A strech of boats selling all variety of goods lines the river. It’s not only the place of selling souvernirs, but also people come here to buy large quantities of goods, mostly foodstuffs. You’ll learn that boats identify what they are selling by hanging a sample off the top of a long pole, if you want mango, simply scan for a hanging mango. And if you want, you’ll have an opportunity to interact with some of floating merchants to get more understands about their work. Huong Hai Sealife

Not far away from Ho Chi Minh city, approximately 2 hours by car, Cai Be floating market is an ideal place for those have limited time travel in Mekong Delta. Cai Be is a charming small town with lots of colorful fruits and vegetable gardens, traditional crafts, a French church from 1935 and an impressive traditional house which can be visited. Cai Be, one of well-known floating markets in western region of southern Vietnam, lies in Tien river, adjacent to three province Tien Giang, Vinh Long and Ben Tre. This market is always busy from 3:00 am in buying and selling goods. Rafts and boats that full of fruits, vegetables and other products are anchored along two sides of river for kilometres. As same as in Cai Rang floating market, the merchandise sold in each boat is hung on a pole in front of the boat to attract customers. From floating markets, goods are shifted for selling at inland markets or small boats take them for delivery along canals in the Plain of Reeds. MEKONG SECRET

Floating markets - the uniqueness of mekong delta

Floating markets in Mekong Delta tours is an unique cultural characteristic, creating such a beautiful river painting. Apart from Cai Rang, Cai Be, you also can visit Phung Hiep floating market in Hau Giang province or Nga Nam in Soc Trang province. It can be denied that visiting floating markets is among can-not-miss experience in Southern Vietnam which will leave you the most impressive, meaningful and memorable moments in Mekong Delta travelling.

Moreover, it also is a necessary part in any Mekong day tour, so if you want to explore, you only need to join in our tour at Mekong Delta Tours

Can Gio Ho Chi Minh city Vietnam travel guide

Can Gio (Cần Giờ) is a coastal district of  Ho Chi Minh city, 50km (32miles) form the city center. Can Gio tourism is famous for mangroves and pristine beaches where haven’t had many tourist services. You can travel Can Gio for 1 day in the weekend.  Travel South Vietnam

Most of people, who used to visit Can Gio, comment that price of service is not expensive, seafood is cheaper than Vung Tau (another site near Ho Chi Minh city). Quiet night, suitable for relaxing. The sea is not blue because of mangrove but it’s not too bad to bath.

Can Gio Ho Chi Minh city Vietnam travel guide
Can Gio Vietnam travel guide

This article i’m going to give you helpful informations for Can Gio trip. MANGO CRUISE

Parts in the article:

How to get Can Gio | Attractions | Hotels | Day trip itinerary | Combine travelling Vung Tau

How to get Can Gio
From Sai Gon, you go along Huynh Tan Phat road, cross river at Binh Khanh ferry, then just go straight. The route is not difficult, only 1 route to get Can Gio, you can go by car or motorbike. Calypso Cruise

You can also get Can Gio by public bus-75. The bus will go through the streets: 23/9 Park – Le Lai – Tran Hung Dao – Pham Ngu Lao – Yersin – Ham Nghi – Ho Tung Mau – Nguyen Tat Thanh – Huynh Tan Phat – Rung Sat – Duyen Hai – Dao Cu and finally, stop at Can Thanh Bus Station (in Can Gio).

Can Gio Ho Chi Minh city Vietnam travel guide

Where to play and visit in Can Gio
Attractions in Can Gio according to the route from Ho Chi Minh city.

1. Vam Sat (Vàm Sát) is a eco-tourism zone of mangrove, you will go into by boat or canoe. In the zone, you will be visited Dam Doi zone (khu Đầm Dơi – where has many kinds of stork and bat), protected areas wildlife and Tam Bong tower, 26m (85ft) high, where you can see all of Can Gio mangroves.

Feed crocodile in Vam Sat eco-tourism
Crocodile feeding in Vam Sat eco-tourism

2. Dao Khi (đảo Khỉ – Monkey island, it’s not an island, just name). This’s very interesting place but you have to be careful with monkeys. They’re very naughty, usually rob foods and items of tourists. My tips for travelling in the island, you should carry a stick to scare but don’t fight them else they will call their whole flock.

3. Lang Ca Ong (Wale mausoleum). In Vietnam, wale is a very sacred animal so people usually worship them in temples or mausoleums. Lang Ca Ong is located in Can Gio market and has 17m (56ft) length skeleton of a wale.

4. Thanh that Cao Dai (Thánh Thất Cao Đài), a sacred temple in the center of Can Thanh town. The temple is quite beautiful, you can sightsee and take photos.

5. Can Thanh town is the seat of Can Gio district. This’s a small and peace town.  From here, you can clearly see Vung Tau city and its 2 big mountains. Even by night, you can see the sparkling lights of Ha Long road – the most beautiful road of Vietnam (in Vung Tau ).

6. 30/4 beach is 8k (5miles) from Can Thanh town. This’s a beautiful and very pristine beach. Near there is Hang Duong market (just 50m (160ft from beach), you can buy seafood in the market, ask them for cooking with very solf price and enjoy them on the beach.

Monkey island Can Gio Vietnam

Hotels in Can Gio
Usually, people travel Can Gio in just 1 day so they don’t rent hotel. However, in the case combine travelling Can Gio and Vung Tau, tourists want to take an overnight in Can Gio and get Vung Tau in next day.

If you travel in big group, you should rent hotels near the 30/4 beach (rate is from $15, more expensive than hotels in the town) to play in evening. You can consult:

1. Tam Ngoc hotel in Dong Hoa – Can Gio, tel: +84 8 3874 4200

2. Hon Ngoc Phuong Nam resort near Tam Ngoc hotel, tel +84 8 3874 3404

If you travel in small group, you should stay in the town.

3. Thai Duong hotel on road No.1, tel +848.3874.3985. Comfortable rooms, (2-star) have balcony overlooking rice field, very nice. Rate is $13/day.

4. Tam Tam hotel on road No.1, Tel +848.2214.4899. Similar price to Thai Duong hotel.

5. Bao Hung motel is also on road No.1, tel: +848.3874.4122

>> Click to check all hotels in Ho Chi Minh city at Agoda.com

Can Gio day trip itinerary
7am, start the trip to Can Gio,

8am, arrive at Vam Sat eco-tourism zone. You have rent a boat or canoe to come into, price is $20/boat. There’re 8 seats / boat, you will be grafted with other tourists (if your group is less than 8 people).

10am, leaving Vam Sat, keep going to Monkey island.

10.30am, arriving in Monkey island. Strolling around and visiting “the island”.

12am, lunch and rest in Monkey island about 2 hours.

2pm, go to 30/4 beach. The beach is quite close to Monkey island, you can ask the local for the way.

2.20pm, arrive at the beach. You can come to Hang Duong market to eat seafood, then play on the beach. Note, the parking just work to 5.30pm.

About 5pm. End the trip, back Ho Chi Minh city.

Combine travelling Can Gio and Vung Tau
You can combine travelling Can Gio and Vung Tau for 2 days. First day, vistiting Can Gio and get Vung Tau in next day. From Can Gio, you can get Vung Tau easily by boat.

The boat will start at 6am and 10am at Tac Suat dock (bến Tắc Suất), take 1 hour to get Ben Dinh dock (bến Đình – in Vung Tau).

Ticket: $1.3/pax. You can carry motorbike on boat but there’re few additional costs (about $3.5/motorbike).

Top 7 things to see in Rach Gia

How To Get There?
By plane
Rach Gia Airport serves domestic flights to and from Phu Quoc Island and Ho Chi Minh City operated by Vietnam Airlines. The flights are served on a daily basis.

By bus 
Buses and minibuses connect Rach Gia with the nearest big cities of the country:
To/ from Ha Tien: 2,5 hours, $2,5 (50,000 VND);
To/ from Hon Chong: 2,5 hours, $2,5 (50,000 VND);
To/ from Can Tho: 3 hours, $3,5 (75,000 VND);
To/ from Long Xuyen: 1,5 hours, $1,5 (30,000 VND);
To/ from Ho Chi Minh City: 6 hours, $8 (165,000 VND).
You can buy a ticket at the bus station. If there’s an opportunity, it is recommended to do it in advance, as due to lack of the transport connection, the tickets may be sold out in a few hours before departure. You can also do it with the help of reliable travel companies. Mekong river cruise

By boat
There are regular hydrofoils cruising between Phu Quoc and such destinations as Rach Gia. One way trip from/to Rach Gia lasts approximately for 2,5 hours and the ticket should costs about $15 (350,000 VND). There’s also a discount for senior (above 60 years old) and disabled people, as well as for children under the age of 11. The timetable of arrivals and departures is available on the webpage of the Superdong transfer company. Halong bay cruise

Top 7 things to see in Rach Gia

Thing To See At Rach Gia
Tam Quan Gate
Tam Quan gate, or as it is also called, Three Entrance Gate, is a true symbol of Rach Gia and is considered to be an entrance to the city. This is a beautiful triple arch bearing the traditional elements of Vietnamese architecture. Travel to Vietnam

Nguyen Trung Truc Temple
The temple is dedicated to Nguyen Trung Truc who was a leader of the resistance movement against the newly arrived French in the end of 19th century. Today this is one of the biggest attractions of Rach Gia and an important religious destinations for the entire region.

Tam Bao Pagoda
This is another destination of Rach Gia with a beautiful story behind. It was built in the beginning of 19th century by the Vietnamese Emperor Gia Long to honour a local woman who aided him after the Tay Son Rebellion. It is surrounded by a quite and cozy garden with numerous sculptures and is definitely a great place to spend some time and enjoy its peaceful atmosphere.

Phat Lon Pagoda (Khmer pagoda)
This is an amazing Cambodian Buddhist pagoda, which name is translated as Big Buddha. Even nowadays the majority of the monks living here are the ethnic Khmers. It has a magnificent architecture and zen garden in the courtyard with an over hundred-year old tree originated from Sri Lanka.

Kien Giang Museum 
The museum is housed in one of the most ancient and beautiful buildings in the city. It has an outstanding and sophisticated exterior design with traditional oriental elements inside of the building. The museum is exposing a big collection of war memoirs, historical photos and cultural relics.

Local Specialities 
Are you a foodie? Then probably, you will enjoy your visit to Rach Gia, Being a port town, it has a big choice of sea specialities as well as traditional Vietnamese dishes. The most popular places to eat and drink among locals and travelers are Thanh Binh, Hai Au, Ao Dai Moi,Valentine, which also offer sometimes different types of entertainment like karaoke or sport events.

Rach Soi Market
Market is a right place to go, if you want to explore people’s everyday life, local culture and of course, buy cheap, fresh and exotic fruits, vegetables and other local specialities. The biggest one in Rach Gia is the Rach Soi market, located close to the port of the town.

Khau Vai Love Market

Khau Vai love market belongs to Khau Vai commune, Meo Vac District, Ha Giang, province. This is a unique market of Vietnam in particular and the world in general. The Khau Vai fair is located in the village of the Nung, in a wide valley and full of people. There have colorful costumers of the ethnic H’Mong, Dao, Giay, Nung… The girls, boys even elder are not hiding restless in the face. North Vietnam packages

From the previous day, canvas-tents were built throughout the valley; the most numerous is place buying corn wine, thang co… In the evening before, many couples follow the mountainside to the Khau Vai love market on time.

Life in the mountains is often tedious. One year has only fair so many families include parents, father in law, son come to love market for fun. Even more couples got married more than 10 years and have 4 children try to join the special fair in this year.

• Huong Hai Sealife Cruise, Halong Travel

The oldest person of Khau Vai commune did not know the time that Khau Vai love market began. According to the legend, the love story between the boy of the H’Mong and the girl of the Giay led to the grudge between two tribes. In order to avoid a bloody confrontation, they were forced away from each other. However, the boy and the girl vowed that they would meet once on the March 26th at Khau Vai market. Khau Vai love market began from that. Up to now, Khau Vai love market became the dating fair, finding love from young to married people. BASSAC CRUISE

Khau Vai Love Market

Khau Vai love market at night becomes more quite, the only conversation and sound of “khen”. If visitors have opportunities to come this market, they will have unforgettable impression.

7 Things not to do in Vietnam - a Cultural Guide

Travel broadens the mind but stray outside of the local laws and customs and you’ll find yourself on the receiving end of angry locals, or worse still, getting deported or locked up in jail. Follow these etiquette and cultural hints when exploring Vietnam;

Don’t blog in Vietnam – If you thought blogging about government affairs in Vietnam is cool, you better think again. Unlike most countries where you are free to blog about the government, in Vietnam, you certainly aren’t. Whether what you were blogging about was sensitive or not, it’d be ten times better to just use that keyboard to type about the weather in Vietnam. Talk about anything like corruption in the government or even the Vietnam War and you’ll either be deported, or you’ll be thinking about freedom behind steel bars. Blogging, in Vietnam, should be about your personal experiences. Blogging about the government is a no-go-zone. Vietnam travel

Keep your leisure time healthy – Despite having the freedom to blog about your personal experiences, you should know that anything that depicts pornography is highly illegal. Prostitution also happens to be illegal. If you’re the kind of person that loves going to bars and nightclubs, flirting with a couple of women and then taking them back to your crib, this isn’t the place for you. Even sharing a room with a Vietnamese of the opposite sex is wrong and co-habiting is completely a no-go option. Though this law is nowadays not so strict about this, you can never be too sure when things might get serious. Calypso Cruise

As with all destinations, it’s important to practice common sense and these tips are here to assist. Regular readers of our blog know that we adore Vietnam as a travel destination and have indeed produced many posts on the subject; My Hanoi Travel Experience: My Favourite Destination in the World, What to do in Ho Chi Minh City, 5 Weird and wonderful hotels in Vietnam and many more.

Women’s dress in Vietnam – For women, the laws are even stricter then for a man. You can’t wear revealing clothing anywhere in Vietnam apart from your own bedroom. Foreigners aren’t excluded from this law and there are some who have been called rude names for wearing sexy, revealing or low cut clothing whilst out and about. Reveal less and you might just survive in Vietnam. Showing off your bust and letting the men see how attractive your legs are will do you no good. Instead, you might end up spending the night in a cell, or you might even be on your way back to your home country. DAY TRIP CRUISE

7 Things not to do in Vietnam - a Cultural Guide

Don’t attempt to drive when in Vietnam – Your driver’s license is as good as useless in Vietnam. Having an International Driver’s License makes no difference either. However good you are at driving, you also can’t be issued with a VN driver’s license. Only a Vietnamese can obtain a driver’s license. So, kindly don’t bother driving in Vietnam if you can’t prove that you are Vietnamese. And with the roads choc-a-block 24/7 it’s no great loss to forgo driving for the duration of your holiday.

Update; whilst you can’t use your own drivers licence in Vietnam you can apply for a Vietnamese licence should you wish to, for example if you plan a lengthy stay and is required by law to drive a car or motorcycle in Vietnam. Visitors can apply via the Hanoi Department of Public Works and Transportation and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Public Works and Transportation, contact details can be found on the FCO Official site.


Stay safe in Vietnam – Also, the police in Vietnam aren’t interested in cases such as your bag was stolen or you got ripped off by a merchant. These cases, in the eyes of the police, aren’t crimes. They are regarded as civil matters of dispute. So, it’d be a good idea to always watch out for conmen, distraction thieves and pickpockets. They can lurk anywhere since stealing your property wouldn’t end up being a police matter. If you do lose something, hire a private investigator or someone of the sort. After that, hope that he/she isn’t a con as well. If he/she is, leave the police out of it. Always check the latest official safety and travel advice prior to travel.

Camera action – Despite criminal deception not being a major issue to the police, your camera might turn out to be a big issue. Restrain from taking pictures of military installations. All you’ll be really looking for is an unexpected arrest in which you’ll be taking pictures of your life in prison.

Drugs in Vietnam – Finally, transportation of illegal drugs is among the most offensive crimes in Vietnam. The maximum penalty for this crime is death. Though you might catch a glimpse of one or two people smoking marijuana in the streets, don’t ever be fooled into doing the same.

What to eat in Phu Quoc

To make your Mekong Delta trip become more eventful worth every penny, sen-mekongtour.com is willing to give you some suggestions about what to eat in Phu Quoc. As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Mekong Delta besides Cai Rang Floating Market or beautiful idyllic Mekong gardens, Phu Quoc allures tourists not only by breathtaking scenery but also by tasty seafood.

Traveling to Phu Quoc, tourists will be excited at delightful activities such as swimming, snorkeling, squid fishing…and satisfied with fresh dishes processed from diverse seafood resources in Phu Quoc.

Herring salad

Herring salad is very famous when we talk about Phu Quoc’s tradition food. The dish is processed quite simply. Newly caught fish are gutted, washed thoroughly, then sliced into pieces before being mixed with lemon juice, finely chop onion, chili. The citric acid in the juice changes the texture of the fish, without changing its “raw” taste. According to common wisdom, the lime juice “cooks” the fish – partially or completely, depending on how long it is marinated.

Mekong & Phu Quoc island (5 days, 4 nights)

What to eat in Phu Quoc

The fish is served with local herbs found in primeval forests of the island, dried coconut , rice chewy paper and sour and sweet Phu Quoc fish sauces mixed with garlic, chili and roasted peanuts.
Sea urchin. Au Co Cruise – Halong Travel

Sea urchin or sea hedgehog is another must-try dish when traveling to Phu Quoc.There are some variations of cooking sea urchin such as steam, soup or raw salad… The popular way of cooking sea urchin is grilling. Sea urchin is cleaned and roasted over charcoal fire until you can smell the aroma. Salt and lime juice is added . You can even try a bit mustard and eat it raw with some mug of beer. The raw salad is made by adding some lime juice and mustard on newly-caught sea urchins and then being served with mustard greens.

You can also enjoy sea urchin soup, sautéed sea urchin or sea urchin paste. The sea urchin meat is mixed with pepper, spring onion, good fish sauce and then deep fried and serve with roasted rice paper, herb, green banana and dip in Phu Quoc fish sauce. This is a recommended dish for any gourmets traveling to Phu Quoc.

Charcoal grilled squid

Another typical specialty of Pearl Island is. After being cleaned, the raw squids are mixed with salt, chili and oil for 15 minutes and then grilled on charcoal stove. The dish will be completed when being eaten with Vietnamese coriander and chili sauce, along with a little salt and lime.

Top 5 Things to do in Da Nang Vietnam

Da Nang is comfortably nestled between Hoi An and Hue on Vietnam’s east coast, but unlike the neighbouring towns travellers only stay here for 2 days on average, which is a real shame as there is so much so see and do in Danang! This is the fourth largest city in Vietnam so benefits from fantastic restaurants, shops and tree lined boulevards. There are also beautiful beaches, fascinating culture and archaeological wonders; after all this is the capital of the Champa Kingdom! Danang – Hoi an 3 days

Explore the Museum of Cham Sculpture

Located: 1 D Trung Nuvuon Street
Admission: 30,000 Vietnamese Dong (Less than 2 US dollars)
The Cham Museum showcases the sculptures from the Champa or Cham people who inhabited and ruled Central Vietnam from 192 AD to 1835. The museum was built by the French with heavy Cham influence showcased in the architectural design. Sculptures and adornment were brought in from temples and towers from all over the region. Sculptures rage in age from the 6th to 17th century. These artifacts and works of art and deal with Buddhist and Hindu influenced materials. Gods, sacred animals, and legends were carved as altars, statues and other temple adornments. Almost 300 different works are on display inside and outside of the main building. LA MARGUERITE

Archaeologists have recently unearthed an ancient Cham tower in Phong Le Village in Danang which is thought to be 1,000 years old. The tower has four gates and four towers and measures 16m by 16m. The site is rich in artefacts as many have been unearthed so far, providing further insight into the ancient Champa kingdom.

Tackle the mighty Marble Mountains

Located: South of Danang
Admission: Only one of the mountains is open to be scaled by visitors
The five limestone mountains located southwest of Danang are named after the five elements by an emperor of Vietnam’s past. These mountains once held temples and even pagodas carved deep into the mountains. The French, Viet Cong, and Americans all left their mark on the mountains as lookouts and hiding places. Exploring caves, temples, tunnels and even climbing up the only open mountain offer something different and beautiful to view.

For other things you didn’t know about Vietnam, check out our 10 things you didn’t know about Vietnam. For example did you know that Vietnam is the fastest growing tourist destination? Jasmine Cruise – Halong Bay

Top 5 Things to do in Da Nang Vietnam

Relax on the beautiful beaches of Da Nang

One of the more famous beaches is My Khe, or China Beach. This beach was once an R&R location for American troops during the Vietnam War. Today it is still used for relaxing, and enjoying the sun and sand. Beautiful accommodations are available for visitors today, along with clean beaches and a reduced amount of beggars compared to other beaches.

Clear water, white sand and green forests surround the Non Nuoc beach. In 2005 this beach was hailed as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world by Forbes magazine. Visitors enjoy surfing on its gentle waves and its proximity to other destinations such as the Marble Mountains.
Discover Danang Cathedral aka Rooster Church

Located: Tran Phu, City Centre
This candycane pink church was built in 1923 for the French Catholics who inhabited Vietnam at the time. Locals have long called the church Con Ga, or the Rooster Church, because of its copper rooster weathervane. Today Danang Cathedral serves 4,000 parishioners and offers services in different languages. If you wish to attend services, observe the Vietnamese etiquette and come early to avoid having to stand in the back or even in the street with cyclists for services led by the local priest. Papers are printed out to help parishioners follow along with the service.

Marvel at the decorative Buddhist Pagodas

Some of the most striking architecture, culture and history present in Danang is located in its many buildings, especially its pagodas. Pagodas in Vietnam are traditional tiered places of Buddhist worship that hold special sacred articles. Worshippers come to pray and meditate within the confines of the pagoda and its surrounding areas.