A Morning at Cai Rang Floating Market

Last month, I visited Can Tho, a big city in the Mekong Delta. My friend Minh lives there, and he took me to Cai Rang Floating Market. It is one of the most famous markets in southern Vietnam.

We woke up at five o'clock in the morning because the market is busiest early in the day. It was still dark when we got on a small wooden boat. The driver started the engine, and we moved slowly along the river.

When the sun came up, I saw hundreds of boats on the water. They were full of fruit and vegetables: pineapples, watermelons, sweet potatoes, and mangoes. Each boat had a tall pole with some fruit hanging on top. Minh explained, "The sellers hang their products on the pole, so customers can see what they are selling from far away."

While we were floating past the boats, a woman paddled up to us. She was selling hot noodle soup from her boat! She cooked it right there and passed the bowl to me. Eating breakfast on a boat was a new experience for me, and the soup was more delicious than I expected.

Later, we bought a bag of fresh rambutans from another boat. The seller was very friendly and gave us a few extra ones for free.

At about nine o'clock, the market became quieter. We went back to the shore, tired but happy. If you visit the Mekong Delta, you should wake up early and see this colorful market with your own eyes.