Cai Rang Floating Market is on the Can Tho River in Cai Rang ward, about 6 km downriver from Ninh Kieu wharf in central Can Tho. The usual way there is by boat from Ninh Kieu: a shared boat seat, a small private boat hired at the wharf, or a boat tour that collects you from your hotel. The ride takes about 30 to 45 minutes depending on the tide.
Timing matters more than transport. The market opens around 5 am and most of the wholesale trade is over by about 8 am, so aim to leave Ninh Kieu by 5:30 at the latest.
A car at 5:30 and a boat already waiting
We collect you at your hotel before dawn and have your own boat ready at Ninh Kieu, so you are among the cargo boats at first light. Free cancellation up to 3 days before.
★Cai Rang Floating Market Private Morning TourYour own boat through Cai Rang at first light, breakfast on the river, a rice noodle workshop and a hand-rowed canal. · About 5 hoursSee the tour →Can Tho Private Day: Floating Market, Con Son Islet and Binh ThuyCai Rang at first light, a noodle workshop, lunch with a family on Con Son islet, Binh Thuy Ancient House and a Khmer pagoda. · About 10 hoursSee the tour →Every way to reach Cai Rang, compared
All four options below get you to the market. What separates them is how early you can leave, how long you stay, and whether you have to agree a price at the wharf at 5 am. Fares are typical figures from Can Tho boat operators as of September 2026.
| Way to go | Time on the water | Typical cost | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared boat seat from Ninh Kieu | About 2 hours | Typically around 100,000 VND per person | Solo travellers happy with a fixed loop |
| Private small boat hired at the wharf | 2 to 6 hours, your choice | About 450,000-600,000 VND for 2 hours, 1-4 people | Couples who can bargain and plan their own stops |
| Group tour from a booking site | 4 to 7 hours | About $25-60 per person | Budget travellers who do not mind a group |
| Private tour with car and guide | About 5 hours door to door | One price for the whole group | Families, early starts, first-time visitors |
By boat from Ninh Kieu wharf
Ninh Kieu wharf is on Hai Ba Trung street, where the Hau and Can Tho rivers meet, beside the pedestrian bridge with its two lotus-shaped pavilions. Boats leave from the pontoons along the embankment from about 5 am, and some leave at 4:30 for passengers who want to watch the sunrise from the water.
From Ninh Kieu the boat heads downriver past the city, under the road bridges and on to the stretch of river about 400 m from Cai Rang bridge where the cargo boats anchor. The working part of the market runs for about a kilometre and a half, so a good boatman slows down and stops beside the boats rather than making one quick pass.
Private boat prices as of September 2026
| Trip | Typical price, 1-4 people |
|---|---|
| Market only, or market and a noodle workshop, 1.5-2 hours | 450,000-600,000 VND |
| Adding an orchard or cacao garden, 3-4 hours | 650,000-900,000 VND |
| Adding small canals, 5-6 hours | 750,000-1,000,000 VND |
Operators add about 100,000 VND at weekends and on public holidays. These are asking prices from boat operators rather than an official tariff, so confirm the route, the return time and the total before you step aboard.
Getting to the wharf before dawn
Most central Can Tho hotels are within a short ride of Ninh Kieu, and many are within walking distance. Grab cars and bikes work in Can Tho, and Xanh SM electric taxis have operated in the city since late 2023, so a 5 am pickup is usually easy to book the night before.
Ninh Kieu has a long history of touts meeting visitors at the pontoons, and of fares that jump on public holidays. Booking your boat the day before, through your hotel or an operator, means you arrive with a price already agreed instead of negotiating in the dark.
What to agree before you leave
Agree four things with any boatman: the total price, the stops included, the time you will be back at Ninh Kieu, and whether breakfast on the river is included or paid on the spot. Life jackets are required on tourist boats in Can Tho, and police do check.
If the 5 am wharf is the part that worries you
Your guide collects you at the hotel, and the boat is booked before you arrive.
Cai Rang Floating Market Private Morning TourAbout 5 hoursSee the tour →Can Tho Private Day: Floating Market, Con Son Islet and Binh ThuyAbout 10 hoursSee the tour →Getting to Cai Rang: common questions
How far is Cai Rang Floating Market from Can Tho city centre?
Cai Rang Floating Market is about 6 km downriver from Ninh Kieu wharf in central Can Tho. By boat the trip takes about 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the tide and the boat.
Can I get to Cai Rang Floating Market by road?
You can drive to the river bank near Cai Rang bridge, but the market happens on the water. To see it properly you need to be on a boat, and most boats leave from Ninh Kieu wharf.
What time should I leave for the floating market?
Leave Ninh Kieu between 5:00 and 5:30 am. The market is busiest from about 5 to 8 am, and most of the wholesale trade has finished by about 8 am.
Is there an entrance fee at Cai Rang Floating Market?
No. The market is on a public river and there is no ticket. You pay only for the boat that takes you there and for anything you buy on the water.
Do I need to book a boat in advance?
Booking the day before is sensible. You can hire a boat at Ninh Kieu on the morning, but an agreed price, route and return time avoids negotiating with touts at the pontoon before dawn.
The river at first light, without the wharf
We collect you at your hotel at 5:30, have your own boat waiting at Ninh Kieu and include breakfast on the river. Every tour is tailored on request, with a licensed local guide.
★Cai Rang Floating Market Private Morning TourYour own boat through Cai Rang at first light, breakfast on the river, a rice noodle workshop and a hand-rowed canal. · About 5 hoursfrom$50/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$155BOOK →2 guests$170BOOK →3 guests$185BOOK →4 guests$200BOOK →See the full tour page →Can Tho Private Day: Floating Market, Con Son Islet and Binh ThuyCai Rang at first light, a noodle workshop, lunch with a family on Con Son islet, Binh Thuy Ancient House and a Khmer pagoda. · About 10 hoursfrom$90/ person›
Choose your group size · price is the group totalSolo traveller$255BOOK →2 guests$290BOOK →3 guests$325BOOK →4 guests$360BOOK →See the full tour page →Boat prices, timings and transport details as of September 2026.