An extraordinary trade, unique only to Vietnam and its Southeast Asian neighbors, floating markets has been a way of life for many Vietnamese who live in the Mekong Delta Region where one of the world’s most important rivers, ${attraction_Mekong_Delta:”Mekong Delta”}, conveniently run along. This particular region of the country may be well known as Vietnam’s ‘rice basket’, but the very fertile lands in between the maze of waterways produce much more than rice. The vast agricultural supplies, domestic products and other unique goods and services offered by the locals in this area could better be witnessed the very moment you get to sail the waters of Mekong River yourself.

As its name suggest, Floating Markets are hundreds of large and small boats weaving through Mekong’s waters while at the same time selling, purchasing, bargaining and bellowing over the noise of the boat engines. The wooden boats are loaded with all sorts of goods ranging from flowers, seasonal fruits and vegetables to live chickens, live snakes and pot-bellied pigs. A bamboo pole stands at the bow of each boat, hoisting a sample of the goods they are selling so buyers can easily spot even from a distance what they’re in need of. The sellers are mostly farmers who wish to sell their produce quickly through wholesale, yet, are also always willing to sell in retail. It is impressive how these people are very honest in doing trade and never overcharge their products.

Clothes, souvenirs, household items and even gasoline are exchanged from one boat to another. But that’s not all. You will find that some of these boats offer specific services like fastfood and drinks, haircuts, tailoring, and nowadays, cell phone repairs and installation of phone applications like ringtones, wallpapers, games, etc… Some of the merchant boats also serve as mobile homes for families and seeing kids running on the decks, playing with their dogs or wives doing their day to day chores is a common sight. Trading begins as early as 4.00 am, and by sunrise the waterways are clogged with the sampans of both sellers and customers.

For these people who have lived almost all their lives in the delta, it is also where the most important events of their lives are centered. For many, it is from the river where their main source of livelihood depend. The lack of job opportunities on the land made them accustomed to making a living from selling what they can on the water market, and their trades are handed down from generations to generations. Others who make money on the Mekong River by simply selling cooked food and hot noodles take so much pride on how such humble trade have changed their lives and even have made possible for them to send their kids to colleges.

Others, apart from the financial rewards, choose to stay on the waters for more personal reasons. Being the only way of life they have acquainted themselves with, staying on the waters make them feel so at home. Certain people, even, have met their lifetime partners on this very river and is also where they have started their families. Every family sailing in this river, every seller, and even the regular local buyers, have their own stories to tell how their lives have surrounded a lot on Mekong’s vast waters.

A visit to the floating market not only acquaints one with how locals in this region live their lives, but in fact, gives one a first-hand experience of a unique tradition of these southerners. Those who intend to study the cultural aspect of people from this part of the country, there is much to be learned from merely watching this interesting trade afloat Mekong’s waters. Surely, the opportunity to purchase goods at amazing and honest prices is great, but the mix of colors, sounds and smell isn’t just a fascinating sight, but an entirely amazing and wonderful experience.

Even with the advent of technological advancement and all improvements that comes with the changing times, paving way for more supermarkets to stand on the dry lands, many people still prefer to purchase their daily needs from the floating market. With boats going in all direction, the form of trade is noisy and chaotic, but for some strange reason it attracts tourists, and somehow locals feel most comfortable with it. Indeed, they are markets. Only, they are beyond the usual ones you will find. But most importantly, they highlight the beautiful features of one of Vietnam’s interesting tradition and culture.