Echoes of the Floating Market at the Cai Be Spring Fair

(DTO) Some memories never fade; they simply wait for the right moment to resurface. For many people in the Mekong Delta, it is the image of the Cai Be Floating Market—a place once bustling with boats and rafts weaving across the waterways.

In the past, a trip to Cai Be meant visiting the floating market early in the morning. There, cay beo poles hung with oranges, pomelos, and watermelons swayed above the boats, while barges and small sampans were loaded with flowers whenever the Lunar New Year arrived. The sound of boat engines and vendors calling out at dawn created the familiar rhythm of a fertile river region.

Yet over time, the Cai Be Floating Market gradually grew quieter. Trading activities on the river are no longer as lively as they once were. Still, the desire to restore that cultural feature remains.

Amid the vibrant atmosphere of the Spring Fair, images of flower-laden boats anchored on the gently flowing water serve as a nostalgic highlight. The festive space along the riverbank, filled with bright traditional attire and cheerful laughter, paints a vivid picture of the early days of the new year.

The fair is not only a spring celebration but also a way for locals to reconnect with memories of a once-bustling time, when life thrived along the riverbank.

Below are captured moments from the Cai Be Spring Fair.

By QUOC TUAN
Translated by ANH DUC