Nearly 300 floating fish cages currently occupy a more than one-kilometre stretch of the Cai River, a branch of the Dong Nai River, between Hiep Hoa Bridge and An Hao ferry terminal in Tran Bien Ward.
The floating fish farming area has existed for years and is home to hundreds of residents. Local authorities say fish farming activities, combined with household waste and wastewater discharged directly into the river, have contributed to environmental degradation and affected the urban landscape.
According to the Dong Nai City Department of Agriculture and Environment, water monitoring between 2023 and 2025 found persistent organic, nutrient and microbial pollution in the area.
Authorities say the concentration of fish rafts has obstructed river flow, trapping rubbish, water hyacinth and sediment. The area is home to 195 households with 517 residents living on 468 rafts containing around 1,400 fish cages.
The floating village lies near Thong Nhat Bridge and Hiep Hoa Islet, an area earmarked for a green urban development featuring commercial and residential projects.
Authorities say the unregulated floating village has affected the area's ecological landscape and tourism potential.
The use of animal offal as fish feed and untreated waste disposal into the river remain common, adding to pollution concerns.
Le Van Thuyet, a resident of Tran Bien Ward, said he hoped authorities would soon relocate the fish rafts to improve the landscape and support riverside development projects.
Under a policy adopted by the former Bien Hoa City, fish farming households on the Cai River are to be relocated ashore and supported in changing livelihoods as part of riverside development projects.
Authorities will continue inspections and encourage residents to remove fish rafts voluntarily, with mandatory relocation possible for those who fail to comply.
The Dong Nai City Department of Agriculture and Environment is expected to discuss a relocation plan this week as the city moves ahead with a 4.6-km riverside road project aimed at improving the urban landscape and boosting tourism.
