A Guide to Chau Doc Floating Market & Hidden Canal
[Updated Aug 1, 2025 ] The Chau Doc Floating Market has remained closed since the COVID-19 pandemic and is no longer in operation.
In the Mekong Delta, only two floating markets remain—each offering a unique glimpse into river life: the authentic, non-touristy Long Xuyen Floating Market, peacefully nestled along the route between Can Tho and Chau Doc, and the vibrant, tourist-favorite Cai Rang Floating Market in the heart of Can Tho city.
One of the best highlight things to see and do in Chau Doc town is the authentic Chau Doc floating market and hidden gems – small canals. It is just about the traditional and cultural river life in the Mekong Delta now and then.
By Thomas Vietnam at vemekong.com | An Giang Travel Guide | 7-floating-market Vietnam Cai Rang, Long Xuyen, Nga Nam, Phong Dien, Chau Doc, Cai Be, Tra On
1. Mekong Delta Drone 4K Video of Chau Doc Floating Market
2. How to visit Chau Doc Floating Market and Canals
Boat trip is the only way to reach the floating market located in the middle of the Chau Doc river (Bassac river). No worry, it is a very central distance from your hotel. Firstly, you get to Chau Doc riverside park, where basa fish sculpture is. Secondly, you take the boat trip from there, there are small sampan and big boat for a big group. The last, the boat trip just takes you about 15 minutes from that boat station to the floating market. Top tip: You should hire a boat a day ahead at least, the next early morning is too dark and hurry to have a boat at 5am.
3. Why to visit the Floating Market at the Sunrise
As a local expert, we do know that the Chau Doc floating market will be no more after 7am. Because this one is very small and very local, there are about more or less 30 boats and sampans at this market, you can watch our drone video 4k to know more. Let’s tell you, we inspect this market a lot and it is always busy and real touching is at the sunsise. Top tip: Best enjoying time to be right at the spot is from 5:45am-6:30am. I hope you have an amazing sunrise on the Mekong Delta river.
4. What to Eat and See at Chau Doc Floating Market and Along the Way
As you see, this is a very local floating market, so you sometimes find coffee and noodle soup at Chau Doc floating market. Besides, you may admire local women there, we see many of them are female who run boats and manage the small business as well. Along the way, you may see fisherman, local boat families on the way to the market or school, ferry and more. Top tip: Smile and have a cup of coffee with the locals and watch the river floating life at the floating market.
5. Free Itinerary and Maps to Go with Chau Doc Floating Market+Canal+Fish Farm+Cham Village
The best deal with the boat too. Just on the way to the floating market, you absolutely can add some more stops to make your boat trip much more worthy. May we share with you the easy-going itinerary, first you should go straight to the floating market, then see the Chau Doc fish farm, and Cham village on the way back, and chill yourself while the boat weaving into the stunning canal. Top tip: Make sure you have time and a good local tour guide.
6. Can We See the Floating Market from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh by the Speedboat?
Nope! It is not in the same direction though. But you can see the floating fish farm from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh from your speed boat. Top tip: The speed boat always starts at 7am from Chau Doc. If you really want to see the floating market, you can make it and finish the market tour before 6:30am. Easy.
7. Chau Doc Floating Market & Tra Su Forest in One day
What a trip! If you can make this full adventure day tour of Chau Doc floating market and Tra Su forest in one day will be so much well-planned. Top tip: Contact vemekong.com to see more unique Chau Doc daily tours.
THE 12 BEST Chau Doc Unique Daily Tours (from $27)
Tra Su Forest Tour from Chau Doc 8am-12noon or 2pm-6pm
TOP PICK with local secret roads Chau Doc Loop Tour With Thomas 1 day (boat+forest, river, floating fish farm, sit on the back of scooter, rice fileds, farm, canals, mountain, hidden village, fun, fullest, unique and more)
Tra Su Forest & Chau Doc River Tour
Chau Doc River Tour & Small Canal
Chau Doc Tra Su Forest & Drop off in Can Tho
Chau Doc Tra Su Forest & Drop off in Ha Tien
Tra Su Boat-Trip-Forest & Sunset Sam Mountain by Motorbike half day
Chau Doc motorbike Countryside Tour & Sunset Sam Mountain
Chau Doc Countryside Cycling Tour & Rice Fields (Morning or Afternoon tour)
Hotline/WhatsApp/WeChat/Zalo +84939888559
hello@vemekong.com
8. Chau Doc Floating Market Opens during Lunar New Year?
We do not think so! The local market is not too tourism yet, so it does not run during the traditional Tet Lunar New Year, but the Calendar New Year is fine. Top tip: If you make a visit to this market one week before Lunar New Year, you win! The best time for all.
9. The Solo Travel Guide to Chau Doc Floating Market & canals
Yeah, you can do it by yourself. Vietnamese are friendly and used to with foreigner tourists, so that you are fine to bargain and make a deal with them. Remember responsible travel please, bargain for fun and willing to help the local and its destination. Top tip: Get to Chau Doc riverside park, where basa fish sculpture is, to find local boats and hire it from there. Make sure you have a life jacket equipped on the boat. Or you can hire a boat from vemekong.com/
10. The Cheapest Way to Visit Chau Doc Floating Market and Surroundings
Join Chau Doc daily group tours for the best solution about boat, time, pick-up and drop-off, information, fun, great memory, responsible travel and safety at vemekong.com. Top tip: Hire a bike for the afternoon adventure and off the beaten tracks in Chau Doc rice fields and many unlock villages.
11. Responsible Travel and Advice to Do any Chau Doc River Tour
It is always good to repeat “responsible travel” over and over. River itself is facing so many challenges from chemical and human waste and modern life with high-tech. We do appreciate any of you who do respect and take good behavior about the river and its protection. Top tip: Chau Doc River Tour is a kind of responsible tour in Chau Doc.
Pro tips:
Best time to visit Chau Doc floating market, Long Xuyen floating market is from 5:30am-6:30am. I hope you have an amazing sunrise on the Mekong Delta river.
You can stay in a homestay which is near the floating market, this will help you out the best option. Then you can hire a scooter, car or bike and explore it by yourself, but you still need to hire a boat for the floating market tour.
If you plan to extend your travel to Chau Doc homestay, do not forget to bring mosquito repellent cream.
Visit Chau Doc 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 Chau Doc responsible tours which help you give back while traveling. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.
Chau Doc 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 Chau Doc 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 Bun Ca Chau Doc (the soft noodle is cooked with fish), Banh bo cake of Chau Doc, Sugar palm fruit, Caramelized and Braised Catfish, Grilled Rice-field Rat with Salt and Chili, Long Xuyen Broken Rice, Nui Cam Pancake, O Thum’s Chicken Grilled with Lime Leaves, Sour Soup with Siamese Mud Carp Soup & Sesbania Flower, Stir-fried Shrimp with Sesbania Flower, Phu Huong Beef Noodle Soup, Basa Fish Hotpot, Mam (Fermented Fish)…
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 Chau Doc in the rainy season, as Chau Doc always looks fantastic in the full rain and full sun.
Chau Doc tourist attractions are magnificent itself, but if you have enough time, don’t forget to put other places onto your bucket lists such as Tra Su Cajuput forest & Birdwatching, Chau Doc Floating Village, Fish Farm & Cham Minority Village, Chau Doc floating market & small canal, Sam mountain, Tuc Dup hill, Chau Doc river tour, Chau Doc cycling tour, Chau Doc photography tour, Ta Pa Rice Fields, Vinh Te Canal, Seven-Mountain Ox Racing Festival, Tay An Pagoda, Chau Doc Market, The Lady Temple – The Ba Chua Xu Temple, Phuoc Dien Pagoda – Hang Pagoda, Thoai Ngoc Hau Tomb,
Hopefully, the above tips will help you to come up with a great plan for your adventure in Chau Doc, An Giang province, Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Have a safe trip!
“Sleep less, travel more, respect more” – Thomas Vietnam – Local travel expert.
Thank you
