Can Tho: The Mekong Beyond The Floating Market
- 5–6 hours
- Skip the line
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
Highlights
Begin on the river as Cái Răng settles into its morning rhythm. Breakfast arrives from a passing boat : steaming noodle soup, strong Vietnamese coffee and the quiet theatre of river trade unfolding around you. Then the main channel falls away, giving way to narrow canals, tropical gardens and homes close enough to glimpse everyday life beside the water. Step into a family workshop where rice noodles are still shaped by hand, then continue beneath the trees to a cacao garden planted in the 1960s. Taste chocolate made here from fruit to finished bar, and hear the family story behind it. A morning that begins with a famous market and leads somewhere far more personal. Why This Journey • Explore Cai Rang Floating Market at its most authentic hour • Travel beyond the tourist routes into hidden waterways • Meet local families and discover generations-old traditions • Experience one of the Mekong's finest organic cacao farms • Travel with exceptional local hosts born and raised in the Delta
Inclusions
What's included
- Traditional Mekong boat throughout the journey
- An exceptional local host, born and raised in the Mekong Delta
- Vietnamese breakfast and freshly brewed coffee served on the river
- A selection of seasonal tropical fruits
- Organic cacao tasting with local producers
- Travel beyond the tourist routes into hidden waterways
- Carefully timed to experience Cai Rang Floating Market at its liveliest
What's not
- Items not included in the journey
Itinerary
Embark on a sampan and witness the vibrant trading activities of Cairang Floating Market, the largest floating market in Vietnam. Goods exchanged include fresh fruits and vegetables, such as pineapples and mangos. Experience a unique breakfast, ordering from floating restaurants and cafes which offer delicious noodle soup and strong Vietnamese coffee—a perfect combination to start your day.
Leave the wider river behind and slip into quiet canals where the pace of life slows. Beneath the shade of water coconut palms, everyday moments unfold naturally — children waving from wooden bridges, fishermen preparing their nets, gardens reaching gently to the water’s edge. This is the quieter Mekong, hidden in small canals few visitors ever discover.
Meet a local family in a quiet village workshop where rice noodles are still made by hand, with patience, rhythm and care passed gently from one generation to the next. Watch as rice batter is steamed into delicate sheets, dried beneath the Mekong sun, then cut into soft strands of noodles - transforming one of Vietnam’s simplest everyday foods into something deeply personal. Behind each step is a story of family, quiet resilience and the dignity of work passed through generations.
We end our journey with a stroll through villages in the local community in which You will visit an organic cocoa farm. The owner’s father brought the plants back from a trip to Malaysia in 1960, introducing an extremely different crop to the region. All handmade and processed, these chocolate goods are a labour of love for this family. Discover more about the process and sample some delicious goods.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 5677
- 46
- 30
- 21
- 10
Ratings come from 684 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Showing reviews written in English.
5Amazing experience
It was an incredible experience! Our tour guide Mai and the Captain Mrs. Bay were very kind, sweet and so caring. Highly recommended and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Enjoy!
5Best tour in Can Tho
10/10 experience. We had Tom as our tour guide and highly recommend him. His knowledge of the country and local area is extremely extensive and we felt right at home with him. This is a must do tour.
5a fabulous experience
Our family of four thoroughly enjoyed our floating market experience with Vy and Khang. Vy ensured every individuals needs were met, was extremely knowledgeable, answered questions, offered interesting insights and perspectives. She has a lovely genuine and warm nature generously sharing aspects of her life and culture to add depth to the experience and a lightness to the group dynamics. The combination of market, life on a house boat, traditional noodle making and organic cacao farm was well paced, fascinating and included delicious food and drinks. A special mention to our captain Khang who helped ensure everyone felt safe, assisted getting on and off boat, and provided everything we needed for comfort and shade. Vy also took great photos which she shared with us at end. We loved it and thoroughly recommend.
5Must-do activity at the Mekong Delta
My family had a fantastic morning with Mai and Mr Khang the captain, with coffee and breakfast at the floating market, and interesting visits to a local noodle making factory and organic cocoa farm. Mai is super knowledgeable about the area, and also lots of fun. We all loved it.
5Truly beyond!
What an amazing experience! My boyfriend and I had only a short time in can tho and decided to go on this tour for an authentic taste of Vietnam. We were not disappointed:) and above all had the best time with our tour guide Vy, who was so witty and funny and knowledgeable, and altogether such a lovely person to direct all our questions to.
5Very interesting and enjoyable tour!
My husband, friend and I thoroughly enjoyed this tour and we had the best guide, Mai Cao, and most attentive captain Mr. Khang. Mai shared so much interesting information, we had lovely conversation, she is delightful and we all had the most enjoyable morning. The tour is great value as is packed with lots of experiences - delicious coffee, soup and fruit from the floating market, visit onto a market boat, rice noodle making, cocoa factory visit and trip down quiet canals. A lot of fun! I highly recommend this tour.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- Please wait us at the main Entrance of An Binh market (address: An Binh market, ĐT923 street, An Binh, Ninh Kiều, Cần Thơ).
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Group size
- Up to 1,000 travellers
- Operated by
- Mekong Realism
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
How it compares in Can Tho
- Its from-price is 63% below the median of the 31 day trips we list in Can Tho.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- By number of reviews it ranks 1 of 31.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Can Tho
Can Tho is the main city of Vietnam's Mekong Delta, a river town of floating markets, orchards, canals and old French-era houses.
Can Tho sits on the Hau River, a branch of the Mekong, in the heart of the delta, a flat green land of rice fields, orchards and canals. The waterfront promenade at Ninh Kieu is the city's evening meeting place, with a statue of Ho Chi Minh and boats lit at night. Nearby, the Binh Thuy Ancient House, a villa mixing French and Vietnamese styles, and the Khmer and Chinese temples show the delta's mix of peoples.
Top-ranked sights in Can Tho: Ninh Kieu Wharf, Muoi Cuong Cocoa Farm, Sau Hoai Rice Noodle Factory.
Special offers in Can Tho
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
