Dreaming of the day when Cai Be floating market will be revived

(SGTT) - The return of Cai Be floating market is not as good as before, the wholesale business is not yet bustling and busy and the road to completion is still long, but the dream of Cai Be floating market revival is coming true.

(SGTT) - The return of Cai Be floating market is not as good as before, the wholesale business is not yet bustling and busy and the road to completion is still long, but the dream of Cai Be floating market revival is coming true.

Cai Be floating market is located at the border of three provinces of Tien Giang, Ben Tre and Vinh Long.

“The floating markets of the Western region are sinking” is a regretful saying of tourism business people and tourists who want to find the old features of the Mekong Delta region. The Mekong Delta region is famous for a series of floating markets, with markets whose names have existed for hundreds of years such as Nga Bay floating market (Hau Giang), Cai Be (Tien Giang), Cai Rang floating market. , Phong Dien (Can Tho), Nga Nam floating market (Soc Trang), Long Xuyen floating market (An Giang)... But these floating markets have now gradually disappeared and become memories of many generations.

This is a region famous for its interlaced rivers and canals, and people in the West used to travel by boat. But today, roads are interconnected and bridges connect villages and hamlets, so the transportation of passengers and goods by boat is gradually being replaced by trucks and passenger cars with large volumes and fast speeds. . Along with that, the development of technology makes trading on the river no longer suitable.

Not to mention the construction of commercial centers, construction of embankments to erase wharves... also "submerged" the floating market. Meanwhile, according to tourism experts, tourists, especially international visitors, are very interested in the floating market in the Mekong River. Losing this attraction means losing a large source of tourists.

In the past, when it was still busy, Cai Be market was a place where hundreds of boats and canoes from all over the world parked every day.

There are many research topics and seminars discussing "saving floating markets", but it is not easy. "Merchants must make a living to preserve the floating market," said Mr. Phan Xuan Anh, a cruise ship "tycoon" and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Du Ngoan Viet Company, who spent a lot of time traveling back and forth. The Mekong Delta region is concerned. He tried to restore Cai Be floating market more than once. Before the Covid-19 epidemic, he invested in 15 gourd boats and assigned Cai Be people to work with him to reorganize trading trips on the river. Two years of epidemic, along with some difficulties and lack of experience, caused his project to come to a standstill. Even the 15 boats that followed people to other areas to live could not be reclaimed.

To "revive" the floating market, once again Mr. Xuan Anh and young people from the Mekong Riverside Tourist Area - a tourist area previously invested by  him (member of the Safe Destination Initiative program), In coordination with the People's Committee of Cai Lay district, Tien Giang province, 32 boats were loaned to people, both to transport goods and to serve as a home for traders on the river. It is expected that 15 more boats will soon be completed and delivered to people who wish to participate in tourism. They are encouraged to trade, everyone has what to sell, priority is given to local products, craft village products, daily utensils, and rural cuisine.

These boats are old boats of 18-30 tons, purchased from all provinces such as Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Dong Thap and then repaired and replaced, each worth hundreds of millions of dong. These boats will not charge a fee, and assigned people will also be trained on how to trade, build tours, and support tourism promotion... However, people are still afraid to return to trading on the river because of the problem. effective, even though I miss the old floating market very much.

Selling whatever you want is a familiar sight on boats and canoes at the floating market.

The ancient Cai Be floating market is located on the windy Tien River. Coming to Cai Be, in everyone's memory, on a wide stretch of river, there is a bustling daily trading scene with about 400 to 500 boats and canoes full of fruits anchored waiting for traders to come and share their goods.

And now, when the tour group arrived at the small market on the river, it was gradually "floating" again. The image of the "bee tree" hanging for sale or the cheerful greetings of traders, with the crowing sound of a young rooster on the boat, then tasting Western specialties and hearing the fragrant screams of the locals. She rowed the boat, making many people feel like they were touching old memories

Typical dishes are also offered by people when tourists visit the floating market.

Merchants and traders are exchanging goods with each other at Cai Be floating market

Visit a resident's house weaving nipa palm leaves.

Of course, the tour to visit Cai Be floating market must be accompanied by many other "spices" to be rich and delicious for tourists. With an estimated entrance ticket of 230,000 VND, visitors can not only visit the floating market, row a boat on the river, but also visit people's gardens to pick seasonal fruits or learn about traditional crafts such as water hyacinth weaving and hammock weaving. Banana, visitors to Cai Be can also visit the hundred-year-old church and many other services and experiences.

Even in the near future, the project will expand to create more activities and increase experiences for tourists such as visiting fish rafts, working with people to unload nets to catch fish and shrimp, buying and selling more items on the river... Tourists With support, people will have more opportunities to make a living, while retaining the culture of the river region and improving the economy.

Water hyacinth weaving in the West.

A corner of Cai Be floating market is gradually being revived today.

The return of Cai Be floating market is not as good as before, the wholesale market is not yet bustling and the road to completion is still long, but the dream of Cai Be floating market's revival is coming true, deepening the love of the river for tourists. near and far.

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Update day : 13/11/2023