A floating market inside a modern city

A floating market inside a modern city

When it comes to floating markets, people will immediately think of the peaceful Mekong Delta where southerners attach their rustic lives to boats and waterways.

But in a noisy and dynamic Saigon, there are still some floating markets existing along Binh Dong Wharf and Tran Van Kieu Wharf in District 8, and Lo Gom Wharf in District 6.

Similar to the Mekong Delta region, the products for sale at these markets are not delicacies and luxury items but everyday products. However, the boats at the city’s floating markets do not move around to find customers as at Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho City or Cai Be floating market in Tien Giang Province. They stay put to sell products transported from Mekong Delta provinces to city dealers and customers.

Among the city’s floating markets, the most bustling one is the fruit market at Tran Van Kieu Wharf. Dozens of boats gather at the wharf selling typical fruits of the delta such as banana, coconut, orange and pomelo.

Ba Le, a 56-year-old trader from the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre, says she has attached her life to the boat, which is also her home, for more than 10 years, and most traders at this floating market have done the job for almost half of their lives.

“This boat belongs to Tai and his wife. Coming from Vinh Long Province, the couple has spent almost 20 years at the fl oating market,” Le says, pointing at a boat full of coconuts sailing next to her boat.

Fruits sold at Tran Van Kieu floating market mostly come from farming households in the delta. Chien, another trader from Ben Tre Province, says he and his wife have been selling dried coconuts and bananas from Ben Tre for 17 years and mostly spending their time on board the boat.

Like many other floating market vendors, Chien equips his boat with a cassette/radio player, and a television set. Some even have motorbikes on board their boats so that they can use them to move around, he says.

Traders at Tran Van Kieu Wharf are mostly from Vinh Long, An Giang and Tien Giang, which have the largest fruit farms in the southern region.

They mostly supply their products for dealers at An Dong and Cho Lon markets, and small retailers. If buyers look for high-quality fruits at reasonable prices, this market can be a reliable source.

No one can tell how long these floating markets can last but at the moment, they still do good business and give a peaceful and rustic touch to the modern city.

Source: SGT

Bài viết liên quan

	Plan for Quang Binh Cave Festival 2015 The Provincial People’s Committee on June 10 approved the plan organizing “Quang Binh Cave Festival 2015”. The event will take place during July 15-21 with a large scale and many attractive art performance programs. The opening ceremony on July 17 will be held at Bao Ninh Sea Square with an art performance... Detail >>

	Fostering Viet Nam tourism promotion in Japan (TITC) – In the framework of Viet Nam Culture and Tourism Festival 2015 in Japan, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized two workshops on promoting Viet Nam tourism in Osaka (June 10, 2015) and in Tokyo (June 15, 2015). Detail >>

	Unlocking the Potential of the Mekong Region via Innovative Partnerships (TITC) – This is the theme of Mekong Tourism Symposium which will be held on June 18, 2015 in Da Nang. Detail >>

	Cultural activities mark 40th anniversary of Vietnam-New Zealand relations On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic Vietnam - New Zealand relations, the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam is planning a vast array of activities to introduce New Zealand’s culture, customs and traditions. Detail >>

	Establishing Du Gia National Park - Dong Van Stone Plateau The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Official dispatch No. 2286/BVHTTDL-DSVH on June 9th, 2015 which was sent to the Government Office on establishing of Du Gia National Park - Dong Van Stone Plateau, Ha Giang province. Detail >>

	Non Nuoc village After a 15-minute ride from the centre of Danang, the biggest city on the Central Coast of Vietnam, I reached its renowned stone carving village, Non Nuoc, which lies at the foot of the picturesque Marble Mountain. Detail >>

	Workshop on Mekong Tourism Social Media Boot Camp (TITC) – In the framework of MeKong Tourism Forum 2015, a workshop on Mekong Tourism Social Media Boot Camp taking place on 16 June, attracted the attendance of national tourism organizations of the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), int’l tourism experts, tourism businesses, int’l organizations in Viet Nam... Detail >>

	Mekong countries need cooperation for diverse, quality tourism products A new cooperation mechanism increasing connectivity among tourism destinations would allow countries in Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) to diversify their tourism products and satisfy tourists’ growing demand and increasingly diverse tastes. Detail >>

	Visa-free travel for people from five countries soon Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has agreed to grant visa exemption to the people of five European countries, in an attempt to lure more tourists to the country. Detail >>

	World-class cruise liner makes first visit to Vietnam The world-class cruise liner Quantum of the Seas, carrying over 6,000 passengers and crew members, anchored in Vietnam for the first time in Tan Cang Cai Mep port in the Southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau on June 17. Detail >>