What is Long Xuyen Floating Market?
Long Xuyen Floating Market is set on the Hau River, just outside Long Xuyen city in An Giang province. Like other floating markets in the Mekong Delta, it developed naturally when rivers and canals were the main transport routes and farmers brought produce directly from their fields and orchards onto boats. For decades, this was where locals traded fruit, vegetables, fish, flowers, and even simple breakfasts on the water.
Today the market is only a fraction of what it once was. A handful of boats still gather at dawn, selling coffee, noodles, or fresh produce, but it no longer has the scale or energy of the past. What remains is more of a glimpse into traditional river life than a bustling marketplace, and expectations should be set accordingly.
History of Long Xuyen Floating Market
The Long Xuyen Floating Market grew out of a time when rivers and canals were the lifelines of the Mekong Delta. With few roads, the easiest way to move goods was by boat, and farmers would load fruit, rice, vegetables, or flowers straight from their fields into sampans. These boats gathered at river junctions like the Hau River near Long Xuyen, creating lively markets where locals traded directly and wholesalers stocked up to supply smaller village markets or even transport goods onward to Ho Chi Minh City.
A hallmark of the market was the bamboo pole (cây bẹo) fixed to the bow of each boat, with samples of what was for sale hanging from it. This system meant buyers could spot what was on offer from a distance, long before the boats pulled alongside each other. Old photos and stories describe the river crowded with trading boats at sunrise, reflecting the market’s role as one of the busiest scenes of daily life in An Giang.
The reality of Long Xuyen Floating Market today
These days the Long Xuyen Floating Market is just a shadow of its former self. Instead of a busy stretch of river packed with trading boats, you’ll often find only a handful scattered across the Hau River. Some sell simple breakfasts, coffee, or fruit, while others carry fuel or supplies, but the large-scale trade that once defined the market is largely gone.
The decline has been driven by better roads and growing land markets, which are faster and more convenient for both sellers and buyers. The COVID-19 pandemic added another blow: months of closures pushed many families to give up their boats altogether, and most never returned.
Because of this, visits are unpredictable. On some mornings you may spot a small cluster of boats with a bit of life, while on others there is barely any sign of a market at all. It’s no longer a guaranteed experience, but rather a fleeting glimpse of what once was.
Highlights of visiting Long Xuyen Floating Market
Many of the market’s highlights are based on how it used to be when the river was crowded with trading boats. Today you’ll only see a fraction of that activity, but if you time it right, you can still catch glimpses of these scenes and enjoy the atmosphere of life on the Hau River.
1. Early morning trade
The market comes to life before sunrise, with its short window of activity between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. After that, boats quickly disperse. Arriving early gives you the best chance to see what’s left of the trading and to experience the river in its calm, cool morning light.
2. Breakfast on the river
One of the most enjoyable parts of a visit is eating right on the water. Vendors prepare steaming bowls of pho or hu tieu noodles from tiny stoves balanced on their sampans, and you can wash it down with a strong cup of Vietnamese coffee. Even if the market is quiet, breakfast on a boat at sunrise is a special experience.
3. Fruit & Produce boats
In the past, Long Xuyen Floating Market was filled with boats stacked high with pineapples, mangoes, and vegetables. These days there are fewer, but you may still see a few vendors offering seasonal produce. Look out for the bamboo poles (cây bẹo) at the front of larger boats with fruit or vegetables hanging from them—a traditional way of showing what’s for sale.
4. Local river life
Beyond the trading, there’s everyday life unfolding on the river. Ferries shuttle passengers across the Hau, families live on their boats, and you may see fishermen or schoolchildren commuting by sampan. These small, unscripted moments often feel more authentic than the market itself.
5. Photography at sunrise
The best light is just after dawn, when the river glows with soft colors and mist hangs low over the water. Even with fewer boats than in the past, the combination of sunrise, river activity, and a bowl of noodles in your hands makes for memorable photos.
Location and How to get there
Where is Long Xuyen Floating Market
The market takes place on the Hau River in Long Xuyen city, An Giang province, a less-visited part of the Mekong Delta. It’s around 6 hours by road from Ho Chi Minh City and about 1.5 to 2 hours from Can Tho, making Long Xuyen a realistic overnight stop rather than a day trip.
Getting to Long Xuyen
The most budget-friendly way to reach Long Xuyen is by bus, with frequent departures from both Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho. Travel by private car is quicker and more comfortable, with the flexibility to stop along the way. Once in town, it’s best to base yourself in Long Xuyen at a hotel or rural homestay, so you can set out for the floating market before sunrise.
Arranging a boat to the Floating Market
- Through a homestay or hotel – The simplest option. Your host can arrange an early-morning boat, often combined with a tour of nearby canals.
- Pre-arranged tour – Packages can include transfers to Long Xuyen, accommodation, a market boat ride, and additional visits to orchards, bird sanctuaries, Tra Su forest, or floating villages.
- Direct at the wharf (O Moi ferry) – It’s possible to negotiate a boat on the spot, but this is less straightforward for foreigners. English is rarely spoken, and it may be harder to explain if you want a market visit combined with other stops in the area.
Practical visiting information & Travel Tips
Not a day trip from Ho Chi Minh City
Reaching Long Xuyen from Ho Chi Minh City takes around six hours, so visiting the floating market as a day trip isn’t realistic. You’ll need to spend at least one night in Long Xuyen or nearby to catch the market in the early morning.
Best time to visit
The market has a very short window of activity. Arrive between 5:00 and 7:00 a.m. to see whatever trading is left. After that, most boats head off and the river looks quiet.
Prepare for the weather
Boat tours usually start before sunrise when it’s still cool, but by mid-morning the sun gets strong. Many boats are open without shade, so sun protection is important. In the rainy season, sudden showers are common, and mornings can be misty or damp.
What to bring
- Water to stay hydrated on the boat.
- Small cash for breakfast, coffee, or tipping your boat driver (optional, not expected).
- Hat and sunscreen for when the sun comes up.
- Camera or phone to capture the sunrise and river life.
- Light raincoat or poncho if visiting during the wet season.
The town of Long Xuyen: What else is there to do?
Long Xuyen is a working provincial town rather than a polished tourist destination. It doesn’t have the charm of Can Tho or the energy of Chau Doc, but it makes a solid base for exploring the wider province of An Giang. The city gives you a more authentic, everyday feel of the Mekong Delta while still offering access to interesting sites nearby.
Here are a few things you can do in and around Long Xuyen:
- Floating villages on the Hau River – Visit riverside communities who live on houseboats and raise fish in cages beneath their homes.
- Ton Duc Thang Memorial – A small museum honoring Vietnam’s second president, who was born in An Giang.
- Bird sanctuaries – Reserves like Bang Lang Stork Garden (30 minutes from Long Xuyen) or Tram Chim National Park (about 2 hours) are great for birdwatching at sunrise and sunset.
- Ta Pa Hill – Around 1.5 hours away, this Khmer pagoda, jade-green lake, and rare Delta hill make a scenic stop.
- Tra Su Forest – Roughly 2 hours from Long Xuyen, this flooded cajuput forest is one of An Giang’s highlights for boat trips and biodiversity.
- Chau Doc – About 1.5 hours from Long Xuyen, this riverside town offers colorful markets, Cham villages, floating houses, and the pilgrimage site of Sam Mountain.
For a deeper look at these places and how to plan your time, see our dedicated Long Xuyen travel guide.
Is Long Xuyen Floating Market Still worth visiting?
If you come expecting a lively market packed with boats, Long Xuyen will probably leave you disappointed. The market has become very small, and on some mornings there is hardly any activity at all.
That said, it still has its quiet charm. Having breakfast on a sampan, sipping coffee as the sun rises over the Hau River, and catching glimpses of everyday river life can be memorable—especially since there are almost no other tourists around.
The market makes the most sense as part of a wider An Giang itinerary. Combine it with boat trips through nearby canals, birdwatching at sanctuaries, or a visit to Chau Doc and Sam Mountain, and it becomes a pleasant stop along the way rather than a standalone reason to travel here.
