Experience the Long Xuyen Floating Market in Vietnam

Where is the Long Xuyen Floating Market

The Long Xuyen floating market is located in An Giang province on the Hau River. The floating market stretches for about 2 kilometers along the Hau River and it’s best to explore on a local boat. To get to the floating market, you will need to book a tour to help you arrange a guide and a boat. Or, you can also rent a local boat on your own to take you to the floating market. 

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What to Expect at Long Xuyen Floating Market

Visiting the Long Xuyen Floating Market is a relaxing experience that allows you to see how the locals live on the river. Early in the morning, you'll see locals living on boats get ready for the day by drinking coffee or washing clothes and dishes. There will also be a few fishermen casting their nets in their smaller boats. Aside from that, you'll be able to see locals sell and buy vegetables, fruits, and goods by boats. It's fascinating to watch how one boat approaches the other and how they arrange their products.

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Best Time to Visit Long Xuyen Floating Market

If you intend to visit Long Xuyen Floating Market, try to arrive as early as possible. The best time is around 5:30 to 6:30 a.m., just before sunrise. If you enjoy photography, you will experience a calm river with ideal lighting during this time. This is also a great time to visit if you want to avoid the tourist boats.

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Where to Get the Boat

The most convenient way to obtain a boat is to organize your tour at your accommodation. We booked it through our homestay, and they arranged for pick-up and drop-off, as well as a local boatman to take us to the floating market. Alternatively, you can find a boatman at the ferry terminal where locals park their boats. Some local boats are bigger to accommodate larger groups, while others are smaller and can accommodate up to four people. If you take the smaller boat, there may not be a chair for you to sit on.

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How Much Does a Tour Cost

A boat tour to the Long Xuyen floating market costs approximately 200.000 VND (8.60 USD) per person. If you decide to rent a boat on your own, bargain for the best price and ensure that the boat has proper life jackets for your own safety. Also, try to arrange a boat one day ahead as it can be challenging trying to get one in the dark if you decide to visit for sunrise. 

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How Long Does it Take

The tour usually lasts at least an hour. You can spend as much or as little time as you want depending on where you booked it. Our tour even mentioned that there was no time limit, but there is only so much you can do on a boat. As a result, we recommend devoting at least an hour towards the boat tour. You'll have taken enough photos and eaten something by that point.

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What to Eat

When you arrive at the floating market, you'll see a few vendors selling food from one boat to the other. Keep an eye out for the lady selling rice noodles with stir-fried pork. This is a typical breakfast meal for the river's residents. It costs 15.000 VND (0.65 USD) per serving and is filling as well as delicious. It's typically served with cucumber slices topped with fish sauce and chili.

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Tips on Visiting

1. Bring a hat to protect yourself from the sun.

2. Check the weather forecast and plan accordingly. If you visit during the rainy season, bring raincoats.

3. Bring a small amount of cash with you in case you want to purchase something from the floating market.

4. After exploring the floating village, stop by Mec Coffee for some refreshments.

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We hope you found this guide to be helpful in planning your trip. Please let us know if we missed anything by leaving a comment below.

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Have a good time at the Long Xuyen Floating Market!