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The Unique Ben Tre Floating Market: A Year-Round Trade of a Single Commodity, Yet Always Bustling with Visitors

Unlike other floating markets, the Thom River Coconut Floating Market specializes solely in coconut products. Hundreds of boats and canoes gather here from across districts and even provinces to trade fresh coconuts and their by-products.

Administrator

2 December, 2024

Coconut Floating Market on the Thom River, dubbed the most unique coconut market in the Western region, is a fascinating destination full of vibrant life and cultural heritage.

Located about 7km from the center of Mo Cay town, the floating coconut market sits on the Thom River, spanning An Thanh and Khanh Thanh Tan communes in Mo Cay Nam and Mo Cay Bac districts. From the center of Ben Tre city, you can travel by road to Mo Cay Nam district and then take a tourist boat along the Thom River to the Coconut Floating Market. Alternatively, if you choose the waterway, you can depart from the boat station in the city center to Ham Luong river and then turn to the Coconut Floating Market on the Thom River.

Historical Origin

In the early 20th century, the French colonial government implemented several infrastructure development policies across Vietnam to exploit the colony thoroughly. In Ben Tre, in particular, the colonial authorities dug new canals to facilitate water transport. This also served as a way to reclaim and cultivate the land and collect and exploit the produce of this fertile land to serve the metropole.

The name “Thom River” is influenced by the language of the Khmer people, a large community in the Mekong Delta. “Thom” means “big,” thus referring to a large river. Later, many people started calling it the “Thơm” River. This is a large canal that spans Cù Lao Minh, the largest of the three islands that make up Ben Tre. The Thom River, approximately 15km long, was formed in 1905, connecting the Ham Luong and Co Chien rivers. For hundreds of years, it has been the shortest waterway from Ben Tre to Tra Vinh.

After the country’s reunification, boats carrying coconuts from various places flocked here for trade, forming a vibrant floating market on the river.

With the establishment of the market, the two riverbanks in An Thanh commune (Mo Cay Nam district) and Khanh Thanh Tan commune (Mo Cay Bac district) became the largest coconut processing centers in the country.

Hundreds of factories line the riverbanks for kilometers, engaged in various activities such as coconut fiber extraction, yarn spinning, coconut candy making, jam production, and coconut milk extraction.

In the mid-to-late 1980s, with the economic reforms, several coconut purchasing and processing facilities emerged. From then until now, along a 5km stretch of the river, hundreds of businesses operate continuously day and night. In addition to processing, vibrant trading activities take place between these establishments and traders from all over the country. Thus, the Coconut Floating Market on the Thom River was born out of these circumstances.

Providing Livelihood for Thousands of Local Workers

Many people who invested in coconut trading or processing have become millionaires. Anyone can find work at the market, depending on their health and capabilities. Those with good health can engage in loading and unloading or coconut peeling, earning over 500,000 VND per day, with some even making over 1 million VND daily. Elderly women with weaker health can still earn 200,000 VND a day by drying and collecting coconut fibers. Other tasks available include spinning coconut fibers and scraping coconut meat.

Best Time to Visit the Coconut Floating Market

To experience the bustling atmosphere of the floating market, visitors should arrive early in the morning during high tide. The market is also open in the late afternoon. The morning is the busiest time, offering great photo opportunities and a chance to witness the lively atmosphere of a traditional craft village. Along the riverbanks are numerous coconut fiber extraction and peeling facilities, employing hundreds of workers. Witnessing the sunrise over the Thom Bridge, with the familiar sounds of boat engines and waves, is a unique way to start the day and experience the hustle and bustle of the village.

For those who prefer tranquility and peace, an afternoon visit is ideal. You can observe the daily life of the boat dwellers, a distinctive feature of the Southwest region. Enjoy the sunset on the Thom River and immerse yourself in the lives of the river-dwelling families as the twinkling lights along the riverbanks signal the start of the evening shift for the workers.

Special Features of the Coconut Floating Market on the Thom River

Unlike other floating markets, this market exclusively trades in coconuts and coconut products. Hundreds of boats and canoes from different communes, districts, and even provinces gather here to exchange and trade coconuts and coconut fibers.

On the river, the trade is vibrant, and along the riverbanks are traditional craft villages and modern factories dedicated to processing and producing various coconut-based products, such as grated coconut, coconut milk, coconut jam, and coconut flakes.

When visiting the Coconut Floating Market on the Thom River, tourists have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the production and daily life of the local people, who are deeply connected to coconuts. Witness the bustling scene of boats of all sizes engaged in trading, counting, and sorting coconuts. Observe young men carrying baskets of coconuts across the plank bridge and the busy crane transferring large bags of dried coconut nets for peeling.

Along the riverbanks are traditional and modern factories operating continuously to produce various marketable products from coconuts. From this versatile fruit, they create coconut oil, coconut candy, coconut fiber yarn, coconut shell charcoal, organic soil from coconut flakes, coconut milk, coconut jam, and coconut fiber mats, to name a few.

When the boat docks at a local house, tourists can learn about the daily tasks of the coconut-dependent community. Observe the precise and swift movements of the workers as they peel, grate, and separate coconut fibers. Witness the processes of making coconut candy, jam, and dried coconut meat—delicious products crafted by the skillful hands of the local women.

As you sit on the boat, cruising along the river, sipping the sweet and refreshing coconut water, you can contemplate the life of the traders who have plied these waters for hundreds of years.

With its unique characteristics, the Coconut Floating Market is undoubtedly an exciting destination for tourists visiting Ben Tre. It offers a glimpse into the daily lives of the local people intimately connected to the coconut tree. The Coconut Floating Market, the Thom River, and the coconut industry will surely be popular keywords in future itineraries exploring the Western region of Vietnam.