Lok Baintan Floating Market, Traditional floating market in Sungai Pinang Village, Indonesia.
Lok Baintan Floating Market is a trading space where vendors sell fresh produce and agricultural goods directly from wooden boats on the river. The vessels arrange themselves along the waterway to create an active marketplace that operates on the water itself.
The market began during the Banjar Sultanate era when rivers served as the main transportation routes. This water-based trading system has remained largely unchanged over centuries, reflecting how communities adapted to river life.
Female vendors from the Banjar community wear traditional head coverings and trade goods from their wooden boats in a way that shapes daily social life. This form of commerce has been part of local identity for many generations.
It is best to visit early in the morning when vendors are most active and the market is full. A boat tour from Banjarmasin is the easiest way to reach the market and experience it directly.
The boats drift continuously with the river current rather than staying in one fixed spot. This means the market constantly changes location and layout, making each visit slightly different.
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