Cai Be Floating Market: Day Trips and Tours from Ho Chi Minh City

A day trip to the Cai Be Floating Market is a great way to break free from the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. Sit back and take in the patchwork of colors, sounds and fragrances that this Mekong Delta market town has to offer.

Every morning, hundreds of vendors cover almost every inch of the Mekong River in boats laden with flowers, fruits and regional delicacies — offering the perfect opportunity to explore different sights and tastes beyond Ho Chi Minh City.

Here's all you need to know about Cai Be Floating Market, one of the most fascinating day trips from Ho Chi Minh City.

How to get to the Cai Be Floating Market from Ho Chi Minh City?

The Cai Be Floating Market is situated southwest of Ho Chi Minh City in the lush and tropical Mekong Delta plain.

Here, the meandering Mekong splits into a multitude of branches and tributaries, providing ample opportunity for exploration and discovery.

From Ho Chi Minh City to Cai Be Floating Market by car

The Cai Be Floating Market is easily accessible by car. Simply, head southwest from District 1 in HCMC, taking the CT01 out of the city. The route of 100 kilometers takes about 2 hours and involves mostly highways and main roads.

Guided tours to the Cai Be Floating Market

A day trip or tour to the Cai Be Floating Market is one of the best ways to take in all the market has to offer. The duration of the trip or tour depends on your preference, with single and multi-day options available.

Day trips last between 7 and 12 hours. Depending on the tour you choose, you’ll be traveling by air-conditioned car or minivan, or cruising your way down the Mekong on a boat.

What is the typical itinerary?

Most of the day trips and tours to Cai Be Floating Market start off from the respective tour company in HCMC’s District 1. Pickup can be arranged from District 1 hotels, where an air-conditioned van will fetch you.

If your hotel is outside of District 1, you’ll need to travel to the specified pickup point. Depending on the type of tour you chose, you’ll either travel by car, van, bus or boat.

The Mekong Delta is a historically important agricultural, commercial and religious center, so there are many interesting sights on the way to and from Cai Be Floating Market.

What kinds of tours are available to go to the Cai Be Floating Market?

Travelers exploring the Cai Be Floating Market and surrounding areas are spoiled for choice when it comes to tour options. Single-day trips and private and guided tours are all available.

Most of these options include lunch and combine numerous sights and activities into one trip, providing excellent value for money.

Full-day cruise to Cai Be village plus Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City

Sit back and relax on this boat cruise tour from Ho Chi Minh City. A leisurely pace allows you to explore the Mekong Delta in all its glory — hop off and on to come and experience village life in southwest Vietnam.

Then, take in all the glory of the Cai Be Floating Market, paddling through the houseboats and enjoying local lunch and specialties.

Small group day tour to Cai Be plus Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City

A tour for travelers that enjoy the finer things in life. Watch rice paddies and fields from the comfort of your air-conditioned van before a quick stop at Kimmy’s Chocolatier.

Here, you’ll learn the intricacies of growing cacao plants and processing the special beans into chocolate goodness. Then, head to Cai Be, visit the Floating Market and relax at a local orchard garden while enjoying a delicious lunch.

A rustic Mekong Delta and Cai Be day tour from Ho Chi Minh City

Set a slow pace with this rustic tour — experience an age gone by in the artisan villages dotting the delta.

See firsthand how coconut candy and rice paper are created before boarding a small boat to delve into Cai Be’s unique way of life while hunting for the next bargain buy.

Mekong Delta full-day luxury group tour in Cai Be plus Vinh Long from Ho Chi Minh City

An early morning pickup helps you escape HCMC’s daily grind, as you head southeast towards the Mekong Delta. Watch quaint little villages and idyllic rice paddies speed by, as you make your journey to Cai Be.

Once you arrive, you’ll exchange the van for a small Vietnamese boat and explore all that Cai Be’s floating village and its myriad of waterways have to offer.

How much does it cost?

The cost of each tour depends on the activities and sights it includes, as well as the duration.

The small group day tour to Cai Be and Mekong Delta from HCMC costs around US$50 per person.

The rustic Mekong Delta and Cai Be day tour from HCMC costs around US$55 per person.

The Mekong Delta full-day luxury group tour in Cai Be and Vinh Long from HCMC costs about US$70 per person.

The full-day cruise to Cai Be village and Mekong Delta from HCMC costs around US$95 per person.

What will you see and do?

A visit to Cai Be Floating Market is a great way to experience a way of life now long gone by. Apart from watching local artisans and craftsmen in action, you’ll hunt for bargains and regional delicacies from your small Vietnamese vessel.

A boat tour from Ho Chi Minh City provides brilliant opportunities to explore the Mekong Delta as you meander your way to your end destination.

Some of the sights and activities you can expect include the Vinh Trong Pagoda, exploring the Mekong Delta by boat and cycling through An Binh Island.

Other sights in the region well worth a visit are the famous Cu Chi tunnels, Cao Dai temple, the mangrove forests of the Can Gio reserve, Monkey Island and boat tours of Ho Chi Minh City.

When is the best time to visit the Cai Be Floating Markets?

The best time to visit Cai Be and the Mekong Delta is from November to April, when the weather is warm and dry. The market itself is best visited early in the morning.

Travel tips

• Wear appropriate clothes, especially when visiting temples and pagodas.
• It’s better to use Insect repellent when exploring the Mekong Delta.
• Confirm your pickup point and time at least 24 hours before your tour is set to start.