Local tourism expert Nguyen Minh recently shared a collection of photos capturing the vibrant scenes of Mekong Delta floating markets taken between 2000 and 2008. 

These images serve as a reminder of a time when these markets were the center of local life, showcasing a rich cultural heritage that is now at risk of fading away.

At a seminar last weekend aimed at revitalizing tourism at the Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho City, locals and experts put forward suggestions on how to save this iconic market.

The gradual decline in the number of boats, vendors, and visitors to the market has cast a gloomy cloud on the once bustling river.

The situation at Cai Rang is reflective of other floating markets in the region, including Phong Dien, Cai Be, and Vam Cong, all of which are unique, naturally developed spaces closely tied to daily life.

Once the largest wholesale floating market in the Mekong Delta, Cai Rang has seen its relevance decrease against the development of transportation and infrastructure in the region.

The Mekong Delta’s floating markets are a far cry from ‘staged’ products designed to cater to visitors. 

They are deeply intertwined with the daily lives and local cultures that line the region’s labyrinth of rivers and tributaries. 

This authenticity is what attracts visitors.     

The following is a photo series Nguyen Minh shared that captured the bustling scene at Mekong Delta floating markets taken between 2000 and 2008, a time when "riverways were busier than roadways”:

Diverse goods fill boats, creating a vibrant atmosphere at a floating market in the Mekong Delta.

Vendors anchor their boats closely together, fostering a sense of community.

A pineapple is hung on the roof of a boat as an advertisement of what’s for sale.

A farmer brings a selection of fruits to sell to traders.

A trader operates a motorboat to transport goods to the marketplace.

A boat serves food and beverages to traders at a floating market.

Tourists visit a bustling floating market in Mekong Delta.

A dog lives with its owners on a boat.

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