Cai Rang Floating Market tour from Ho Chi Minh City

Watch the Mekong come alive at dawn as boats trade fresh tropical fruits on the water

A small-group day trip from Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Rang Floating Market in the Mekong Delta, departing before dawn to catch the market at its most active. You travel by motorboat and hand-rowed boat through the largest and most authentic floating market in Vietnam, eat a local noodle breakfast served on the river, visit a rice paper workshop and tropical fruit gardens, stop in Cai Be village for a cooking demonstration and bicycle ride, and return to your hotel after 11 to 12 hours. The group stays under 12 people, and hotel pickup is included for central Ho Chi Minh City.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Cai Rang Floating Market1h 30m · entry included
2. Ninh Kieu Wharf1h · entry included
3. Cai Be1h

Mekong Delta Floating Market Day Trip

• Hotel pickup at 5:00 a.m.
• Drive 3 hours to Can Tho with rest stop
• Cruise Mekong River by motorboat
• Visit Cai Rang Floating Market
• Enjoy local noodle breakfast on river
• Explore lively flea market
• Visit rice paper and noodle workshop
• Walk tropical fruit gardens and sample fruits
• Stop at Cai Be Village for lunch and cooking demo
• Relaxing cycling experience in Cai Be
• Drive 2 hours back to Ho Chi Minh City
• Drop off at hotel or central location

The experience

The tour starts with a 5 a.m. pickup from your hotel in District 1, 3 or 4: early enough that you're on the water before the sun breaks. A 3-hour drive south takes you to Can Tho, with a rest stop to stretch and use the restroom, and then you board a motorboat for the Mekong River itself. Cai Rang Floating Market opens at dawn, and that's when you arrive: boats stacked with tropical fruits, vendors trading right on the water, the river alive with commerce that happens nowhere else. You eat a local noodle breakfast served on the boat, watching the market work around you.

After the market, the motorboat takes you to a traditional workshop where rice paper and fresh noodles are made by hand. You see the process, not a demonstration staged for tourists. Then a hand-rowed boat carries you through tropical fruit gardens where you sample whatever is in season. The pace is slow enough to talk to your English-speaking guide and notice the orchards and villages that line the water. Lunch happens in Cai Be village: a 5-course set menu, a short cooking demo, and a bicycle ride through the village before the long drive back to Ho Chi Minh City. The driver can drop you at your hotel or any central location you choose.

The group maxes out at 12 people, which means the boats don't feel crowded and the guide can actually answer questions. You get two 500ml bottles of water or soft drinks (beer is available if you choose the paid drink option at checkout), snacks like fresh fruit and honey tea, and all the boat trips (motorboat and hand-rowed) are included. The minivan is air-conditioned, and if you have a food allergy or need vegetarian meals, you tell them at booking and they arrange it. Infants sit on an adult's lap. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Only one child under five travels free per family.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in central Ho Chi Mihn City.
• air-conditioned minivan transfer with a 3-hour drive each way.
• English-speaking Vietnamese guide.
• motorboat and hand-rowed boat trips.
• local noodle breakfast on the river.
• 5-course lunch in Cai Be village.
• a rice paper and noodle workshop visit.
• tropical fruit gardens with seasonal tastings.
• a bicycle ride through Cai Be village.
• snacks including fresh fruit, candies and honey tea.
• two 500ml bottles of water or soft drinks per person.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private car, flexible itineraryUp to 12 people · Guide in English · 05:30A private car with a personalized, flexible schedule, with pickup included.

Shared minivan transferUp to 12 people · Guide in English · 05:00

VIP limousine for up to nineUp to 9 people · Guide in English · 05:00 and 05:30Comfortable limousine accommodating up to nine passengers, with pickup included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:00 and 05:30

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Infant (under 5): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Asiana Link Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're willing to start before dawn. The early timing is what puts you on the water when vendors are actively trading, not after the market has peaked.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years); Infant (under 5): free.

How early do I actually have to wake up for this tour?

Hotel pickup happens at 5 a.m., so you need to be ready by then. The early start is what puts you on the Mekong at sunrise, when Cai Rang Floating Market is at its most active and the light is best for seeing the boats and vendors.

What exactly is Cai Rang Floating Market, and how is it different from other markets in the Mekong?

Cai Rang is the largest and most vibrant floating market in the Mekong Delta: vendors trade directly from boats loaded with tropical fruits, and the whole market operates on the water. Unlike smaller or more tourist-focused markets, this one is where locals actually buy and sell, so you're watching the real commerce of the region.

Do I get to eat, or is this just a tour?

You eat a local noodle breakfast served right on the motorboat while you're at the market, and lunch is a 5-course set menu in Cai Be village. A cooking demonstration happens before lunch, and snacks like fresh seasonal fruit, candies and honey tea are included throughout the day.

Will I be on a boat the whole time?

No. You spend time on a motorboat at Cai Rang Floating Market and a hand-rowed boat through the fruit gardens, but you also walk through a rice paper workshop, cycle through Cai Be village, and spend the morning and afternoon on the water. The day mixes boat time with village exploration.

How many other people will be on this tour?

The small-group option is limited to 12 guests per group, so it stays manageable. If you prefer to travel with only your own party, a private car or VIP limousine option is available at checkout.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay extra for?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the minivan, all boat trips, breakfast, lunch, snacks, two bottles of water or soft drinks per person, the guide, and the bicycle ride are all included. Alcoholic drinks beyond the included water and soft drinks, tips, travel insurance and personal expenses are not included.