The canal branches out into 7 directions.

“The Ca Mau mat-carrying boat has anchored on the bank of the Nga Bay canal/Why doesn't the girl from yesteryear come out to greet us?”... This immortal Vong Co song by the late composer Vien Chau, sung by the renowned singer Ut Tra On, has deeply ingrained itself in the memories of generations. The song encapsulates the journey of the Ca Mau mat-carrying boat downstream to the Phung Hiep canal—where the water connects the southernmost tip of Vietnam to the confluence of seven legendary rivers in the Mekong Delta.

Báo Cà Mau•06/07/2025

The Phung Hiep canal, over 100 km long, connects Ca Mau to Nga Bay, Can Tho City, passing through the areas of Gia Rai, Phuoc Long, Hong Dan, to Nga Nam and then up to Nga Bay.

In Ca Mau, the Phung Hiep canal is the intersection of three waterways, often referred to by locals as the Chua Ba junction, including the Ong Doc River, the Ganh Hao River, and the Bac Lieu canal.

Reaching the Giồng Bốm five-way intersection, Đầu Sấu three-way intersection, Chủ Chí four-way intersection, Phó Sinh three-way intersection, and Ninh Quới four-way intersection in Cà Mau province. From Ninh Quới, extending to the five-way intersection, there are four more intersections: Vĩnh Quới, Long Mỹ, Thạnh Trị, and Phụng Hiệp, located in Cần Thơ City. This is the final, unique convergence point of seven river branches in the Mekong Delta: Cái Côn, Mang Cá, Bún Tàu, Lái Hiếu, Xẻo Môn, Xẻo Đông, and Kênh Xáng.

The Phung Hiep Canal is a vital waterway that not only provides water for rice paddies, shrimp farms, and orchards, but also serves as a trade route for the entire Ca Mau Peninsula. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tons of goods are transported from Ca Mau to all corners of the country.

On this very same river, there were once many unique cultural features, such as the Nga Bay floating market, the Nga Nam floating market, and the Ca Mau floating market... these were places for trading goods that were very special to the people of the Southwestern Mekong Delta and were once popular tourist destinations.

The confluence of seven branches of the Phung Hiep River includes: Cai Con, Mang Ca, Bun Tau, Lai Hieu, Xeo Mon, Xeo Dong, and Kenh Xang.

The Phung Hiep canal is a major trade route connecting the Ca Mau Peninsula region. (In the photo: The Phung Hiep canal section passing through Phong Thanh commune)

A night by the banks of the Phung Hiep canal - where the river flows into the heart of Ca Mau city.

Nga Nam is located in Can Tho City, where the Phung Hiep River branches off into Vinh Quoi, Long My, Thanh Tri, and Phung Hiep, providing irrigation water for the fields.

Along the Phung Hiep canal, many unique floating markets used to be formed, such as the Ca Mau Floating Market, the Nga Nam Floating Market, and the Nga Bay Floating Market, attracting tourists to visit.