Wednesday Dec 10 2025 - Can Tho - Cai Rang - Ho Chi Minh
Previous posts can be found on the right side under BLOG ARCHIVE.
STEPS
WEATHER
TOUR DAY 15 half day with lunch
ITALICS TOUR DESCRIPTION
Breakfast at the hotel and departure for a boat cruise that will take you to the vibrant Cai Rang floating market. Here, you will experience a local type of market in which all purchasing activities take place on boats and ships of different sizes. Then, you will continue through a small canal to visit a fruit garden, where your guide will show you around before having a plate of delicious fruits. After your return to Can Tho, you will have some time at leisure to observe rural life and the lush vegetation along the riverbanks. Check out of your hotel and drive back to Ho Chi Minh City with lunch included en route. The rest of the afternoon and the evening are free. Overnight in Ho Chi Minh City. (Breakfast-Lunch)
Breakfast was fair, but the staff were lovely.
Luggage was out for 7:15 and we left, on foot, at 7:30. We walked a few minutes to our boat.
The floating market wasn't what I expected, I was thinking it would be like Bangkok, with cute boats and tacky souvenirs.
John PS forgot his phone so he asked me to take some photos for him.
Cái Răng Floating Market is a wholesale floating market specializing in the trade of vegetables and fruits on the Hau River, and is a unique tourist attraction in the Cái Răng district in Cần Thơ, Vietnam.With a history dating back to the early 20th century, the market emerged as a crucial trading hub. Before the development of roads and bridges, the myriad waterways of the delta region were the primary means of trade and transport, leading to the development of floating markets where channels converged.
.
The market opens at around 2–3 AM, with peak activity from 4–6 AM, though buying and selling continues throughout the day. As a wholesale market, goods are brought here in relatively large quantities. Each type of product is sorted by quality and size. Boats, primarily "ghe bầu" (large, flat-bottomed boats), are the main means of transport and loading.
The market opens at around 2–3 AM, with peak activity from 4–6 AM, though buying and selling continues throughout the day. As a wholesale market, goods are brought here in relatively large quantities. Each type of product is sorted by quality and size. Boats, primarily "ghe bầu" (large, flat-bottomed boats), are the main means of transport and loading.
The best was the orange juice made fresh from a boatside vendor. I heard the Chatty Cathys say "oh, I'd be afraid to try that!?!" Really?? You saw him cut open the orange and squeeze it before handing it to me.
Finished her shopping.
We were told that it is the last floating market of its time. Was it interesting? Yes, but I wouldn't have been disappointed if we hadn't gone.
The fruit orchard
.
A "Monk Bridge" refers to simple, rustic rope or bamboo bridges called Cầu khỉ.
The bridge is a simple structure made of bamboo and wood and the surrounding area features lush greenery and trees, consistent with a tropical or agricultural environment like the Mekong Delta.
Heading back.
I would have preferred to have more time visiting the market in town that we walked through before boarding the bus.
Back on the bus and then a 1.5 hour trip to Trúc Xanh.
On the way as most snoozed.
Next we visit a silk and bamboo outlet in Mekong that proudly showcases garments crafted from silk or bamboo fibers, alongside a variety of products derived from coconut, offers a rich tapestry of Vietnam’s local craftsmanship and sustainable ethos. These outlets serve as vibrant hubs where the cultural heritage of Vietnam intertwines with contemporary design and environmental consciousness.
The silk and bamboo co-op was very interesting. We saw how silk is made from the silk worm.
We were given a drink.
Then we attended an "infomercial" about bamboo. The presenter was a very experienced sales woman. Everybody ended up buying something. See video below!
John PS doing a happy dance as the bamboo heating pad cured him!
Then it was a 10 minute bus ride to lunch. The place looked lovely but other than the rice ball, which none of us had ever seen, the food was mediocre, which means a lot of waste.
It was one of the group's 69th birthday and I assume, his wife arranged to have a cake for him.
I think we were the only people who noticed the rice ball as it was only shown at our end of the table.
It started to rain as we finished and continued through the evening.
Honestly, this side trip to Can Tho was a waste of time. We didn't get any time to explore Can Tho or enjoy the hotel.
We received WhatsApp notifications on our various flights tomorrow. The group (8 + plus any from bus 1) going on to Cambodia has a 5:30 AM departure time.
UPDATE around 6 they were told their flight was delayed and they were only leaving at 7:30!
The Canadians (6) going home have 4:30 and 5 AM. Three of the Americans going home were leaving that night. One was leaving late tomorrow night, which he was not pleased about, but Jason got him a good offer on hotel and transportation which he was pleased with.
It looks like only us from Bus #2 and another couple from Bus #1 are going on to Thailand.
We're back at the Paragon in HCMC around 5 PM for the night. We got our luggage, room keys, and an obligatory farewell photo, along with some hugs from our favourite people. Thank god the Chatty Cathys are going home!
19/20 plus Jason - Maholo Man is missing.
Our purchases from the bamboo factory.
We had thought to go for burgers where John PS had mentioned but it was raining so we hopped next door to the tapas place and John PS was eating there. We had mentioned it to him and he said he had been born in Spain! He joined us later.
We sat at the bar as it was full.
We took a photo the next morning.
That puffed rice ball is very cool!
ReplyDelete