Nga Bay Floating Market is a famous floating market in Hau Giang province and the Mekong Delta. This is the place where the activities of buying, selling, and exchanging goods of the inhabitants of the river region take place. This place is not only a place to trade goods but also a place to attract domestic and foreign tourists.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | Official Hau Giang Visitor Guide
1. Better to Know as a Tourist
The Nga Bay – Phung Hiep floating market has gone and no more.
Ticket: Free
Spend-time: One hour (approx)
Hours: 3:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Food: Yes
Shop: Yes
Parking lot: Yes
Blog: https://vemekong.com/nga-bay-phung-hiep-floating-market-hau-giang/
Address: Phung Hiep Bridge, Nga Bay Town, Hau Giang.
Added values: The image familiar to visitors is the boats full of goods, and tall trees to introduce the products sold for easy selection by buyers. Not only is it a unique culture, but it is the “soul of a river and water”, Nga Bay floating market also retains the footsteps of its ancestors, showing the cultural customs of the ancestors for nearly a century on the rich alluvial land.
Nearby attractions and hidden gems: Looking for places to stop on your way to and from Nga Bay – Phung Hiep floating market? Or maybe you found it too crowded here? We’ve got some ideas! Check out our list: Lung Ngoc Hoang Forest & Bird Sanctuary (25 km), Kittyd & Minnied Amusement Park (23 km), Truc Lam Zen Monastery Hau Giang (38 km), Vi Thanh Outdoor Farmers Market (56 km), Cau Duc Pineapple Fields (70 km), . . .
2. Travel Guide to Nga Bay – Phung Hiep floating market
The period of formation and development
The market was established in 1915, and most of the rivers flow to Nga Bay. At that time, more than 300 boats gathered here every day. This can be considered a focal point and a rather busy floating market. It is also at Nga Bay market that the village’s profession of making boats (choking). The traditional boat-building village at the beginning of “doi” Tan Thoi Hoa, DOI Chanh, doi Cat has existed for over half a century. With a few hundred households eating, they can also do it thanks to the Nga Bay market
Nga 7 floating market was born after 10 years of digging canals. Due to the spreading power, the impact was too great, the central area immediately became the largest water traffic hub in Cochinchina. Along with a major commodity trading center in the southernmost region. Strong impact on the market for agricultural products in the West. “Star Phung Hiep” – as the French often call it. It was also expected to be established as a trading port for the vast Hau Giang region in the past.
In the South, there are many floating markets, but none are as “floating” as the Nga Bay market. In terms of size, affluence as well as its name and position. In the past, the center of Nga Bay floating market had over 1,000 large and small boats. At the peak of Tet, there are sometimes more than 3,000 units. Horizontal boats are also hundreds of units. At night, the kerosene lamps, the lanterns floating in the water, like a lantern festival, are very interesting!
Decline stage
After nearly 100 years of development and affluence. Currently, the Nga Bay floating market has been relocated. River residents at the crossroads have moved to other floating markets such as Nga Nam floating market (Soc Trang), up Tra On (Vinh Long), and even up to Cai Be – Tien Giang … The reason is to clearwater traffic. And avoid environmental pollution due to a large amount of waste in the river.
Traffic density in the Nga Bay area is too high. The Nga Bay floating market had to be relocated to Ba Ngan on the Cai Con river, more than 3 km away from the old location, where there was only one main branch from the Ke Sach river. Therefore, the busyness and typical beauty are also significantly reduced. Moreover, the name Nga Bay market has been associated with the name of the river section where the market is held and has become a famous trademark of the Mekong Delta.
Grow back
There have been many tourists who expressed disappointment with the new market. Traders and people are also not interested in the Ba Ngan market. Therefore, at the end of 2006, Nga Bay floating market was returned to its old location. Currently, the Ministry of Trade of Vietnam and the government of Hau Giang province are trying to restore this typical floating market. Currently, Nga Bay is being planned and invested with incentives to become a grade 3 city by 2015. It is the second commercial and tourist center of Hau Giang province after Vi Thanh city.
The best time to go to Nga Bay floating market
The Nga Bay floating market usually gathers at dawn every day. From 5 to 8 am in the peak for fresh agricultural products trading. From then until afternoon and evening, the market continues to operate. Goods in the floating market are extremely diverse, especially fruits. Each season, looking at the scene of busy boats, full of fruit, visitors will know what kind of fruit is the main crop.
How to rent a boat to visit the Nga Bay market
If you want to visit the Nga Bay floating market, you can rent a sampan. At the wharf, many small boats carry 3-4 guests to the floating market. The ferry left the wharf, the beautiful floating market scenery appeared in the morning mist. The scene of the people of Nga Bay takes place very vividly. Sit on the floating dinghy. Enjoying a few specialties in the famous market must be a very peaceful and relaxing pleasure.
3. What to Do – See – Eat at Nga Bay – Phung Hiep floating market
Cultural beauty of the river region
Nga Bay Floating Market is one of the busiest and most famous floating markets in the Mekong Delta. Hidden deep in the floating market is a deep layer of indigenous culture not only of Hau Giang but also the soul of the whole Mekong River region. The soul of the river is the floating market because it stores the footsteps of the ancestors. Connecting the past with the present, habits, customs, and spirituality. And is the creation of the economic culture of the forefathers of more than a century in the new land.
Immerse yourself in the bustling atmosphere of the market. Visitors can observe and learn about the activities of merchant families with many generations living on the boat. There are boats like “mobile homes” on the river. With pots of ornamental flowers, and raising animals, every boat is full of means of living. It looks very eye-catching and there are motorbikes parked on the boat. The sound of the floating market includes the sound of the engine, the rowing of the water, and the waves crashing against the side of the boat.
On the tour, visitors will have the opportunity to know more about the traditional craft village of boat building in Hiep Thanh ward, wicker craft village, fruit orchards in Dai Thanh and Tan Thanh communes, and visit Lung Ngoc Hoang ecological area. …
Nga Bay Market has diverse and rich goods
Nga Bay Floating Market is a wholesale market specializing in the wholesale purchase of fruits and local agricultural products. Goods are concentrated here in large quantities. Each item has been graded for uniformity in quality, and size and contained in tear bars. If the local people and the surrounding areas often use boats and canoes carrying agricultural products here for consumption. Then the boats with a large tonnage belong to traders who buy fruits and spread them everywhere.
The busy market of the West sells all kinds of goods without missing anything. Specifically, if you want to buy something as a gift for your loved ones, you can refer to the specialties of the western region of the river such as Phu Huu pomelo, Lo Ren miky apple , tangerines, Ri6 durian, … garden fruits. Depending on the season, the fruit has its diversity. Most of them are garden fruits, so each fruit is delicious and sweet, eating once will make you feel impressed and remember it forever.
Catering to buyers, and sellers, as well as in markets on the mainland. The floating market has a lot of mobile food stalls on small boats. Selling all kinds of noodles such as noodle soup, beef vermicelli, Banh Chung, pho, coffee, soft drinks…
4. Free Itineraries from VeMekong
As a local travel expert, we have some ideas for you to think about.
From Hau Giang center:
Route 1:
Route 2:
Route 3:
If you do not have much time left, it is easy to check out spots in one full day by boat or with bike or with motorbike and car. But there are much more than tourist sites like these in Hau Giang. Make sure you have more time to feel and explore more about the hidden gems and the culture, food, night life, wildlife and forest as well. Top tip: Stay in a homestay nearby, so you have more chances to visit it and surroundings. If you are looking for the package Hau Giang daily tour with local, you can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
5. Google Maps of Nga Bay – Phung Hiep floating market
Google Maps made a name for itself helping people travel from one place to another, avoid traffic (You probably know the route from your hotel to the gas station by heart, but what you can’t be sure about is gridlock), measure a distance, get back to the hotel on time, share the location…
6. Visit Nga Bay – Phung Hiep floating market by yourself
Solo traveller? Travelling on your own means you will get out of any difficult situations by yourself. This, in turn, leads to more satisfying travel experiences and helps you improve your problem-solving skills. These days we rarely get the chance to sit with ourselves and simply be. That’s why you should consider the time you spend alone on your trip as a gift.
It is possible for solo travellers to use google maps and do it alone. But sometimes they need to update local maintained roads and bridges which close and lead you a longer road than the road from google maps. It is just about the time. It takes more time to find the correct garden to come. Adventure is always fun. Wifi is strong in Hau Giang village! The locals find it hard to speak English as well. Top tip: Sticking to one canal and keeping going along it which gives you more things to see and avoids getting lost. Contact vemekong.com to hire a car, scooter with English-speaking-guide or cycling tours in Hau Giang.
7. Responsible Travel and Advice to Visit Nga Bay – Phung Hiep floating market
Don’t get us wrong. But we assure you that you totally agree with us. “Do not give candy and things to the children when you plan to visit any local villages”, the kids will leave the school and follow the sweets and later they find some things to give you or sell to you. The garden is a little forest, don’t pick and touch the flowers or fruits without the local’s smiles. We deal with traveling green and leaving green behind, not plastic. Top tip: Vemekong.com are some of the companies that care a lot about responsible travel and local respectation.
8. Amazing Video flycam/drone of Nga Bay – Phung Hiep floating market (4k)
If a picture says a thousand words, it stands to reason that the video says many times more.
9. Incredible Tips for Photography, Specialists, KOLs, Media and Influencers
To get the best of the best for your unique writing, featuring, photo, video and insider’s stories. We do recommend you to have a local travel expert, the one who always gets more ground information and makes sure every single element is solved perfectly. Vemekong (very exclusive Mekong) team is your priority choice. Email and have a private talk with them to customize your journey smoothly, personal and the most ultimately amazing. You can contact www.vemekong.com or Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559; email: hello@vemekong.com
10. Pro Tips
You can stay in a homestay which is near the riverside, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself and I hope you have an amazing Mekong Delta river sunrise.
If you plan to extend your travel to Hau Giang homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Hau Giang or do any customized tours, please choose reputable providers with boat trips equipped with lifebuoys, jackets, motorcycle and cycling tours with the helmets and. Safety is a priority! Choose Hau Giang responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Hau Giang food & drink guide ranges from street food, authentic, fancy to fusion foods. As a tropical land of many fresh vegetables and homegrown gardens, which always make Hau Giang cuisines fresh, close to nature and very traditional. If you are a food lover, don’t hesitate to put other bites onto your food lists such as Cau Duc pineapple, Hau Giang’s Bronze Featherback Fish Cake, Cai Tac’s Pork Organs Porridge…
Bring your hat, sunglasses, and sunblock, scarf to wear when visiting temples, pagodas, and the cathedral.
Bring the raincoat if you’re planning a trip to Hau Giang in the rainy season, as Hau Giang always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Hau Giang tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Lung Ngoc Hoang Forest, Nature Reserve & Bird Sanctuary, Kittyd & Minnied Amusement Park, Truc Lam Zen Monastery Hau Giang, Vi Thanh Outdoor Farmers Market, Bo Tum Vong Say Khmer Pagoda, Like Coffee Shop in Hau Giang, Phung Hiep Bamboo and Rattan Craft Village, Tu Sang Bamboo Garden Hau Giang, Cau Duc Pineapple Fields, Tam Vu ecotourism area, Long My Stork Garden,Ba Bai Base, Chuong Thien Cultural & historic site, Vi Hung Church, Xa No Park – Xa No Canal…
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Hau Giang province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
