Recently, the "flying shell" type in Can Tho City has become a phenomenon on social networks with a series of videos being widely shared, attracting the curiosity and experience of many people. However, before concerns about waterway traffic safety, functional agencies have requested to stop operating this type.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Tin (Thoi Lai commune, Can Tho city), owner of the "flying crate" service provider, said that he used to run a coffee shop. After that, he gradually formed the idea of the "flying crate" service and started operating from November 2025 to now.
According to Mr. Tin, before stopping operations, on average, they welcomed 20-30 tourists per day or possibly more depending on actual conditions. A tour runs from 5 to 7km, with prices ranging from 125,000 to 250,000 VND/time. A speedboat carries 2 or fewer tourists, to facilitate the captain's transportation and ensure the weight of the speedboat.
The canals being exploited are all deserted, with few households living and few vehicles passing by, not running on the large river to avoid affecting people. The shells move at a speed of about 30–50 km/h," Mr. Tin said.
Explaining safety, Mr. Tin said that during the movement, there will be 3 people standing guard on the shore at the beginning, middle and end of the road. These people will ensure that no vehicles enter or exit, and be present to handle immediately if an incident occurs.
According to Mr. Tin's account, the unit requires the captain to have more than 10 years of experience driving a speedboat and be trained strictly for more than 2 months before officially carrying tourists.
Currently, Thoi Lai Commune People's Committee has requested to stop operating. In the near future, we will go to make related documents to register for service activities. If the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City allows operation, then we will redo it, otherwise I will develop other types of tourism," Mr. Tin shared.
Mr. Tran Long Ho - Vice Chairman of Thoi Lai Commune People's Committee (Can Tho City) admitted that recently, in the area, there have been some cases of using motorized speedboats to transport tourists moving at high speed on canal routes.
According to Mr. Ho, this activity poses a risk of unsafety, which may threaten the lives and health of passengers as well as waterway traffic participants.
“We have directed the Police to coordinate with the Social Work Department to inspect and work with 2 business establishments of the "flying shell" type. Through the working session, the Commune People's Committee requested the 2 establishments to stop operating. At the same time, carry out procedures for registering waterway vehicles and registering operations in the form of river tourism in accordance with legal regulations,” Mr. Ho stated clearly.
Regarding the "flying shell" operation, a leader of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City said that the unit does not license types of tourism services that are dangerous and potentially unsafe for waterway traffic.
