Having noodles on floating market is one of the most memorable experiences of mine while I was traveling Can Tho - the province in South West area of Vietnam.
In the early morning, we took a boat and toured around Hau river. We visited floating market where local people used boat to transport farm products, sell and buy directly on the river. But my purpose of visiting that market was looking for the special noodles sold overthere.
I heard from local that that there was a boat of Hai aunt who had sold noodles (Hủ tiếu) for Gordon Ramsay. The host of Master Chef US was really impressed by that noodles on floating market and even said that it was the most amazing food he had ever had.
With that story, try noodles on floating market became a must. Unfortunately, Hai aunt who sold that amazing noodles didnβt sell it anymore. But my tour guide recommended another to me and said that recently this new one had become really famous.
When we were approaching the noodles-selling boat, I saw quite a few boats already there and a lot of tourists, even foreigners were waiting for noodles. My tourguide anchored our boat and help us to order noodles.
It was really exiting to see whole process of cooking and serving. Everything was being done on the river. They cooked the broth with the huge pots on the boat and there were bowls, ingredients,... around. The woman and her husband stayed on boat, kept preparing, cooking, serving for other boats surrounding.
After 15 mins of waiting, finnally I had a bowl of noodles. It was just small, not bad but nothing special. The broth and meat just normal. But it was quite expensive, around 2$. With that price, you can find so many restaurants on the ground which are much more better.
However, I feel that itβs worthy. About the experience I had. The feelling of staying on boat and trying a hot bowl of noodles, while the boat gently moved following the waves. $2 is worth experiencing the culture of local people, of river-folk. So it is still a place that I highly recommend you to visit and experience.
Cai Rang floating market - Can Tho