Cai Rang Floating Market, which is a popular destination for tourists, has helped to generate jobs for many people. However, since Covid-19 happened, more than 100 boat operators at the market have been severely hit.
Nguyen Thi Man, who has been working as a boat operator at Ninh Kieu Wharf, said that she had never witnessed such a sluggish period. The work not only helps improve her family’s finances but also gives her the opportunity to learn more about other people's lives.
The tourist boat service on Cai Rang Floating Market in Can Tho City has failed to attract passengers following Covid-19
Since the second Covid-19 outbreak in Vietnam by late July, she has been almost unable to find customers. She only has some customers only at the weekends. If the situation is not better, Man and other boat owners would turn to other kinds of jobs.
Pham Quy Xuan who owns two boats said that since late July, his boats currently do 2-3 trips a day at the weekend. Each trip can transport 10-15 people. Xuan added that at present she and her husband were taking care of the entire boat-related work to save costs. They have still had to repay the loan for buying the two boats.
According to the operator of 20 Tuan-branded tourist boats, her family has suffered losses of VND20 million (USD869.56) per month since the Covid-19 outbreak.
A boat owner complained that it was common to see tourists to be hustled at Ninh Kieu Wharf, affecting the image of Can Tho tourism. He suggested the use of uniforms for boats and the arrangement of staff to regulate boats to leave and come into the wharf. This is aimed to protect tourists from being pestered.
Many boat owners said that they have not yet received assistance from the government’s aid package of VND62 trillion (USD2.6 billion).