CẦN THƠ — Cần Thơ City's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently launched a training programme for traders at Cái Răng Floating Market aimed at improving tourism services, environmental protection, food safety, and inland waterway transport standards.

Traders were receiving guidance on tourism knowledge and cultural behaviour, while also raising awareness of landscape and environmental protection, food safety and hygiene, inland waterway transport safety for tourist services, fire prevention, and river rescue operations.

Sầm Long Giang, deputy director of the Cần Thơ Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, stated that the programme aims to improve the quality of the tourism workforce, enhance competitiveness, and further develop Cái Răng Floating Market into a more attractive destination for visitors. 

The training also contributes to strengthening environmental protection awareness at the market and promoting the image of Cần Thơ as a civilised, friendly, and safe tourism destination.

Organisers called on instructors to actively share professional expertise and practical experience with participants. 

Upon completing the programme, trainees are expected to apply the knowledge gained to their trading activities, adopt civilised tourism practices, protect the floating market environment, display prices transparently, and comply fully with food safety and inland waterway traffic regulations.

According to local authorities, there are currently around 210 trading households operating at Cái Răng Floating Market, mainly aboard boats selling vegetables, fruit, food and drink, souvenirs, and tourist transport services. 

Tourism products at the market are increasingly diverse, including food stalls, souvenir stands, OCOP product displays, photography check-in points, and decorative gateways. 

Supporting attractions linked to the floating market, such as traditional noodle workshops, fruit gardens, cultural and historical sites, hotels, and resorts, are also continuing to develop to meet growing visitor demand.

In recent years, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has worked with local authorities to encourage boat owners and traders to refurbish and improve the appearance of their vessels while trading at the market.

Efforts have also been made to promote and introduce the market’s intangible cultural heritage to tourists. 

Training courses on tourism skills and civilised conduct have been organised for boat operators and tourism service staff.

Cần Thơ’s tourism sector regularly promotes the image of Cái Răng Floating Market through the city’s tourism information portal and smart tourism mobile application. 

Images and VR360 camera features of the floating market have also been updated and upgraded on the smart tourism digital map system.

Cái Răng Floating Market is located on a branch of the Hậu River flowing through Cái Răng Ward, providing convenient trade connections with neighbouring provinces and throughout the Mekong Delta region. 

The market specialises in agricultural produce and local specialties from Cần Thơ and nearby areas.

In 2016, the “Culture of Cái Răng Floating Market” was officially recognised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as part of Việt Nam’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage list. — VNS