Blaming solely small traders or tourists is not enough and also unfair.
Because, a large part of the waste originates from small canals and ditches entangled in the inner city, following the tide, it pours into the main river and then "accumulates" in the middle of the floating market.
Every time the tide rises, garbage is brought back by the current, turning the floating market into the final receiving point.
This shows that the waste problem at Cai Rang floating market is not a single issue, but a story of urban environmental management associated with river and water characteristics.
Over the years, local authorities have implemented river cleanup campaigns, calling for raising community awareness.
At times, floating markets are cleaner and tidier. But that improvement usually does not last long.
The reason lies in the fact that the solutions still lean towards "cleaning up" rather than "preventing", administrative orders rather than changing behavior.
When keeping hygiene has not become an intrinsic need, garbage will still return, as quickly as it disappeared.
Tourism not only sells beautiful scenery, but also sells experiences and emotions.
A Portuguese tourist once frankly expressed regret, the scenery is peaceful, but the waste reduced significantly impressively.
Previously, a group of tourists requested to leave the floating market to move to another locality because they could not withstand pollution.
Those stories are clear warnings, garbage not only causes environmental pollution, threatens community health, but also directly "kidnaps" tourists.
A dirty destination cannot become an attractive destination, no matter how long-standing its history or unique cultural values.
Many experts believe that it is necessary to boldly consider more fundamental solutions, establish a smart garbage barrier system at the canal entrances to the river, and support small traders to switch from styrofoam boxes to environmentally friendly materials.
But more important than that is the cultural factor.
To have a clean market, people must love the river as much as they love their own home. If they are only forced by regulations, they will do it in response.
When keeping hygiene becomes a part of floating market lifestyle, change can be sustainable.
Cai Rang floating market cannot "float" in the true sense if it is submerged in garbage.
Cleaning the river is not only for today's beauty, but also to preserve livelihoods, identity and the tourism future of Can Tho.
Garbage can be cleaned up in a day, but if the tourist's trust is lost, it is very difficult to regain it.
To make the floating market live by tourism, first of all, it must return to it a clean river, where river culture is respected, not covered by garbage and indifference.
