An early bustle at the Ngan Nam floating market in Soc Trang

In daily life, in the countryside of rivers, floating markets still play an important role in the economic life of people. With the development of infrastructure and roads and bridges throughout the region, the transportation of goods by water may no longer be as a priority as before. In cities with modern supply chains like Can Tho, floating markets are viewed more as a tourist destination than a trade channel. However, in some localities, this river culture still plays an important role in the life and economy of the people. Compared to Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho, Ngu Nam floating market has fewer visitors to visit, but not so it is less busy. On boats of all sizes, farmers and small businesses constantly exchange hands with countless items: vegetables, chickens and ducks, mango jackfruit, rice and meat, etc. Once procured, these items will be transported along tributaries for distribution to other small markets, meeting the needs of people across the region. To prepare for the floating markets at Junction Five, small traders have to wake up at dawn. From that point on, busy trade began to take place, with cargo boats constantly coming in and out of the dock. Each small chair is a portable street vendor, offering all kinds of items. A noodle seller can also be a customer of a vegetable vendor. On the road next to the river, stalls were set up to prepare breakfast and other necessities, from clothes to spices. For a small fee, we were able to rent a boat and travel back down the river to visit the market. The Ngu Nam floating market is not a popular tourist destination, so the people we met that morning were all people living around the area. From their boats, they happily let us take pictures, even waving with delight that someone was interested in their usual grocery shopping. Photo by: Alberto Prieto According to Saigoneer