A floating market is a marketplace where goods are sold from boats by people whose communities are adjacent to rivers or other waterbodies. Floating markets have been the hub of most riverine communities of the world since time immemorial. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used to trade farm produce on the mediterranean sea for the economic benefit of their respective territories. Centuries ago in Europe, every coastal town in the continent had a public wharf with an established market in place for people to buy and sell goods, as well as transact several kinds of business. And in Asia, floating markets formed an integral part of the continent's waterfront communities, as it served as important trading centres to the locals. Likewise in Africa, floating markets were a common practice in the continent's riverine communities where water transport played an indispensable role in daily life. The following is a list of these traditional floating markets presently existing around the world:

ABERDEEN FLOATING MARKET, HONG KONG:
The Aberdeen Fishing Village is a Community located on the Aberdeen Harbour in the Southern part of Hong Kong; popularly known for its more than five hundred (500) junk boats which serve as homes to thousands of locals, and the Community's Floating Market. The Original Inhabitants of the Village are of the Tanku tribe, who settled in the area around the 8th Century and have always had a rich fishing culture. Hence, in order to enjoy fresh seafood, the Community's Floating Market is the best hub for sampling all kinds of seafood delicacies; thereby attracting numerous visitors from around the world.

The Market boasts of several boat restaurants, one of which is the 'Jumbo Floating Restaurant'. The Jumbo Floating Restaurant is the largest floating restaurant in the world and a major tourist attraction in Hong Kong that serves the best quality and appetizing Cantonese-style seafood delicacies. These floating restaurants are properly anchored down to prevent excessive swaying, and the inside of alot of these boats are extravagantly furnished.

BLOEMENMARKT (FLOATING FLOWER MARKET) AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS:
The Bloemenmarkt (Flower Market) in Amsterdam City of the Netherlands is said to be the only floating flower market in the world, and one of the most colourful and fragrant areas of Amsterdam all seasons. This market has been in existence since 1862, and was initially known as 'Trees & Plants Market'.

The Market boast of a steady supply of all kinds of flowers, house plants, gardening essentials and souvenirs. The Floating Flower Market is situated on the Singel canal between the Koningsplein and the Muntplein in Amsterdam; and the market consists of several stalls on boats floating in the canals. Here, one is sure to find any type of flower or house plant needed whether as a bouquet, bulb, or a single flower. Tourists, flower enthusiasts and buyers from around the world visit daily to this unique market that blooms all year round. Amsterdam has a very rich cultural heritage and the floating market is an integral part of the city's heritage and history.

CAI RANG FLOATING MARKET, VIETNAM:
This floating market is located in the South-Western region of the country on the Cai Rang River. Several boats gather here from dawn till noon, thereby making the area astoundingly lively and colourful tourism spot, with abundant tropical fruits. Usually, there are large sized anchored boats stationed at the market to provide meandering lanes for smaller ones to weave through.

The goods generally traded abode these boats at the Cai Rang floating market are agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables; and other basic commodities such as drinks, clothes, toiletries, gasoline e.t.c. In addition, Trading are being conducted from boats, to the excitement of buyers. Other side attractions at the floating market area is the presence of some floating houses belonging to the locals along the riverside, and the manner in which sellers exchange their goods from one boat to another using the throwing and catching method which is so much fun to watch; as well as the opportunity to enjoy fresh fruits while shopping on boat. Let us not also hastily forget the unique advertising method being applied by the sellers at the market; which is the method of attaching to each boat a pole, and displaying sample products available for sale by hanging the said sample products on the pole.

(Culled from https://knowworldfacts. )

DAMNOEN SADUAK FLOATING MARKET:

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, which is situated some 60 miles southwest of Bangkok, is undoubtedly the most popular traditional floating market in the world. The market is regularly crowded by hundreds of people consisting of traders, buyers and tourists from various countries around the world.

Damnoen Saduak floating market is always very bustling and colourful as merchants paddle their canoes down the canal trading mainly in agricultural products such as fresh fruits and vegetables, which are usually harvested from nearby farms. For centuries, floating markets have been an integral part of several communities in Thailand's central plains. The market was established along the Damnoen Saduak canal, which was constructed during King Rama IV's reign so as to provide an alternative channel of transportation for the communities at the time. The canal was completed and opened for public use in 1868.


GANVIE FLOATING MARKET BENIN:

The village of Ganvie is a unique community made of several small ethnic groups, and which is located on Lake Nokoué, some kilometers north of Cotonou, the capital city of the Republic of Benin in West Africa. The community was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1996, and may soon become one of the world's prominent tourism site. Legend has it that centuries ago, the people of Ganvie settled on the lake to escape the incessant attacks by Fon tribal slave hunters, whose religious belief is claimed to abhor the Fon tribesmen from entering into waterbodies.

The market is mostly conducted on boats and the traders generally display their goods neatly organized in their canoes, while others transact their business under small shanty sheds built at the riverside. The goods mostly sold in this traditional African floating market are: woven hats; plastic basins; woven baskets; foodstuffs, bottles of vegetable oil; bottles of liquid soap and many more local commodities.


AMPHAWA FLOATING MARKET THAILAND:

Amphawa Floating Market happens to be one of the most popular floating markets in Thailand. Also, majority of the regular visitors to this mmarket are Thai nationals; which gives it a more traditional experience than the Damnoen Saduak floating market. The Amphawa Floating Market is believed to have been established in the mid-seventeenth century; and presently, it has metamorphosed into a popular weekend market for lovers of Thailand's local delicacies. Situated about 50 km from Bangkok, this once small village was apparently already present in the mid-Seventeenth Century. It has become such an irresistible attraction for Thai weekenders that food stalls have grown from the riverbanks and stretched far into the surrounding streets.

The main item being sold in this market are all kinds of well cooked food and snacks peculiar to the surrounding communities. Visitors have the options of either eating on the stationed wooden boats, or seating and eating on the concrete steps leading onto the canal, or better still eating inside any of the many food stalls at the riverbanks and nearby streets. The vendors serve an array of appetizing grilled seafood such as delicious prawns, shellfish and oysters; giving out sweet aroma all day long.


SRINAGAR FLOATING VEGETABLE MARKET, INDIA:

Srinagar's Dal Lake has a scenic location, with several boats floating on it, as well as aqua sports like water skiing being organized there. But the most unique attribute of the Dal Lake is its 'floating vegetable market', which coincidentally happens to be the second most famous of its kind in the world, the first being at Mekong Delta in Vietnam. This floating market is a buoyant tourist attraction in the Kashmir Valley, and this is reflected in its annual profit turnover estimates.

Note that even though Srinagar Floating Vegetable Market is a very old market, there are no permanent shops at the floating market , and business is generally done in the morning hours of every day (usually between 5am to 7am). The Dal Lake is also home to vast stretches of lotus plants, which produce colourful flowers that give a special kind of beauty to the lake and wetland. Hence, its no surprise that many tourists visit the market area just to take photos of the captivating scenery; as it is a photographer's haven.

(Culled from https://knowworldfacts. )