“The Cái Răng floating market is an invaluable asset, an original culture of the South West river region. The inhabitants maintain this typical river lifestyle to this day, a special, specific tourist resource.”, Said Mr. Lê Thanh Phong, permanent vice-president of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association.

Cái Răng Floating Market considers itself the symbol of the river culture of the Mekong Delta which attracts many locals and international visitors. However, there are some problems. Nguyễn Thành Long, coming from Hồ Chí Minh, said: “I have visited the floating market 2- 3 times and it is really a particularity of the South West. Too bad nothing has changed, this site has remained the same for years. I don’t want to compare, but in floating markets in Thailand, products and services are more abundant, albeit artificial. It is even more regrettable that a “real” floating market in our country cannot do something to attract and keep visitors.”

Cái Răng Floating Market is an intangible cultural heritage respected by the Cần Thơ city government. This respect is justified by the Cái Răng Floating Market Conservation and Development Project (now “project”). The project is being carried out in two periods, 2016-2018 and 2019-2020 with a total of 13 items including 9 carried out over 4 years. Specifically, they are the system of beacons for the signaling of shipping lanes, maintenance of commercial activities through financial aid, creation of organic agricultural and fruit products to be supplied to the floating market, garbage collection to protect the environment, the opening of floating stores, maintenance of the monthly performance of “đờn ca tài tử” (Southern folk music) at the floating market… Moreover, the 4 items in progress are the rest area, landing stage pontoon, cruise, floating restaurant.

Mr. Vương Công Khanh, vice-president of the People's Committee of the Cái Răng district tells about the difficulties during the implementation of the project: “Several problems arose such as the entanglement of legal formalities for the management of the floating market, the waste treatment, the protection of the landscape and the hygiene issues, the control of the prices… Many items which no longer suit reality must undergo a modification while new ones will have to be recognized such as the opening of a wholesale market of agricultural products, the supply of clean water and price subsidies for the sellers of the floating market, intensification of the treatment of garbage through new solutions, creation of the coordination mechanism between the competent services for the management of tourist activities and the sanction in case of non-compliance with regulations. "

These are problems arising from the reality of the floating market. Exaggerated selling is one example. Small traders, especially those with catering services, depend more or less on tourist boats. To get customers, they have to pay a commission of up to 10%, which increases the price. Despite the complaint from visitors, control, and sanction by the local government, the problem is not radically resolved because of the entanglement in management. Due to the lack of a coordination mechanism, Cái Răng district cannot adequately manage the traffic of tourist boats from Ninh Kiều, Phong Ðiền or Bình Thủy and it is, therefore, difficult to resolve the problems that have arisen.

On the other hand, merchants only trade in agricultural products, not in tourism, and they are therefore clumsy when it comes to welcoming visitors. Their unstable income from agricultural products can no longer hold them back to the market, which is becoming sparse and the market does not exist without traders. This has become the top concern of the local government that is to care about social security policy so that the small traders in the floating market can earn a living and stay there for a long time.

These are the issues to be discussed at the seminar “How to conserve the Cái Răng floating market”. In the immediate future, a solution proposal for the sources of agricultural products to be supplied to the floating market will be presented. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cần Thơ city will offer consultations and help the farmers to make decisions regarding the cultivation of agricultural products suitable for the Cái Răng floating market, or certain varieties of typical fruits for the creation of a varied, excellent, and efficient agricultural production system. Moreover, the solution for the consumption of agricultural products for the floating market will also be discussed. The Department of Industry and Commerce, meanwhile, will offer consultations as a coordinator for the farmer-business-wholesaler connection due to stable, sustainable, and reliable consumption. Regarding social security policy, the locality will focus on subsidizing prices, distributing clean water, day-to-day protection of health and education, social security, and other basic needs.

Furthermore, technical solutions will also be proposed for the stable development of the floating market by linking tourism and heritage conservation, more precisely, the good management of the functioning of the market, the lifting of administrative barriers, the reorganization of lines and circuits, the stability of price. Exchanges with seasoned tourism professionals will allow the creation of a suitable management mechanism, the adoption of a strategy of delivering products and services that meet customer expectations. The solution for a stable and sustainable environment will also be one of the concerns of the participants of the seminar. Besides, Intersectoral coordination in management between the boroughs (Cái Răng, Ninh Kiều) will be taken into account.

Conserving the floating market involves a shared responsibility between government, community, locality, and visitors. Any constructive ideas and comments will be most welcome for the preservation of the identity of the floating market, a cultural trait passed down from generation to generation.