A unique riverine culture

The Nga Bay–Phung Hiep region has long been regarded as the gateway to the western subregion of the Hau River. The Nga Bay Floating Market was established in 1915, after the French invested considerable time and effort in excavating seven canals radiating outward across the area. As waterway trade flourished, boats from Ca Mau, Rach Gia, Vinh Long, and Can Tho increasingly converged here, bringing agricultural produce, vegetables, and fruit to exchange and sell.

After nearly 110 years of development, the Nga Bay Floating Market has since been relocated to the mouth of the Ba Ngan Canal, about three kilometres from its original location on the Cai Con River.

Nga Bay is a land interlaced with rivers and canals, where boats constantly pass by and people have lived along the riverbanks for generations, shaping the distinctive floating market culture. Phan Thi Ngoc, a resident of Nga Bay Ward, Can Tho City, shared that her family has been attached to the floating market for decades, considering trading on the waterways both a habit and their main livelihood. Similarly, Le Thi Tham from Dai Thanh Ward affirmed that trading at the floating market is a unique cultural trait of the riverine region, helping many locals secure a stable life.”

In the past, when road transportation was not yet well developed, a distinctive feature of trading at the floating market was the boat-to-boat, canoe-to-canoe transactions. From this emerged a new service known as the ‘do’ — small boats or canoes used to ferry customers around the market, easily weaving in and out among the crowded waterways.

Today, localities with floating markets are actively developing eco-tourism that combines orchards with the floating market experience, offering visitors a taste of the delta’s serene waters and lush fruit gardens while reviving the riverine culture. The Nga Bay Floating Market has become an indispensable part of southern community life. Le Van Dao from Phung Hiep Commune noted: “Trading at the floating market is very convenient. We can do business early in the morning, then still have time to return home to work in the rice fields or tend to our fruit gardens.”

Harnessing potential for development

Following recent administrative restructuring, Nga Bay Ward was established through the merger of Lai Hieu, Hiep Thanh, and Nga Bay wards. Today, Nga Bay strides confidently on the path of urban development while preserving its distinctive Mekong river culture.

According to Trinh Thanh Hung, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Nga Bay Ward, the local economy has been developing steadily, with its economic structure shifting in the right direction. By the end of the current term, the ward’s production value is estimated to reach 3.862 trillion VND, with an average annual growth rate of 8.34%. The poverty rate has fallen to just 0.7%. The locality has also achieved positive results in restructuring crops and livestock, particularly through directing and orienting concentrated production areas such as rice, fruit trees, livestock, poultry, and aquaculture.

Statistics show that the ward is home to 264 enterprises. Their increasing number and scale have made important contribution to mobilising social resources for production and business, creating more jobs, improving living standards, boosting state budget revenues, and maintaining socio-political stability.

Upholding its core leadership role and setting an example in solidarity, democracy, and responsibility, Nga Bay Ward has consistently raised public awareness on the importance of cultural development. The ward has effectively implemented plans under the former Nga Bay City’s scheme to build local residents into ‘cultured, courteous, and hospitable citizens.’ It has also stepped up efforts in promotion and communication through mass media and social media platforms.

These efforts have bolstered the potential of Nga Bay Floating Market tourism, which is now linked with cultural heritage tours, spiritual tourism, and 11 garden eco-tourism sites. Over the past five years, the locality has attracted more than 65,000 visitor arrivals, generating over 25 billion VND in revenue.

Trinh Thanh Hung further noted that with its existing potential, Nga Bay Ward has many advantages after the administrative merger. These include the Cai Con River, National Highway 1A, and the Quan Lo–Ca Mau route running through the area, making it a crossroads that connects communes and wards within Can Tho City. Alongside the development of new urban areas and commercial centers already in operation, these factors are expected to turn Nga Bay Ward into a key hub for goods transshipment between regions.

With determination, proactive efforts to overcome difficulties, and a commitment to building on past achievements, local residents believe Nga Bay will make breakthroughs to become a centre of urban, commercial, service, and tourism development in the Mekong Delta, while preserving its tradition of unity and consensus for rapid and sustainable growth.