A floating barge at a floating market in southern Vietnam resumed operations this week despite a prior suspension order following an incident in February that left several tourists in the water.

On Wednesday morning, visitors to Can Tho City’s Cai Rang Floating Market were surprised to see the Khoi My floating barge welcoming customers again, despite a formal order to cease operations for two months after a temporary bridge connecting the dock to the barge tilted and collapsed on February 16.

Four tourists fell into the river, and hundreds more were alarmed.

The Khoi My barge, measuring 10 by 20 meters, serves as a stopover for visitors to shop for local specialties. It is anchored roughly 20 meters from the riverbank in a section of the river around five meters deep.

After the incident, inspectors from the Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism and Cai Rang District found multiple violations, including an expired business registration certificate and inadequate safety measures for visitors.

The department fined Tran Chi, the barge’s owner, VND7.5 million (US$293) for failing to warn tourists about potential hazards and ordered a two-month suspension from the date of inspection.

The business was only to resume operations after completing necessary repairs, renewing its registration, and meeting all safety requirements.

Despite these conditions, Chi confirmed this week that the barge had resumed normal operations after paying the fine and conducting repairs.

“My facility has been fully repaired and is now safe to operate,” he said.

However, the safety conclusion was announced by the facility itself, not by any official agency.

Chi also acknowledged that while the barge had previously been registered, its certification has expired, and it has yet to meet the criteria for re-registration.

He added that no floating barges currently operating at the Cai Rang Floating Market meet the new registration standards.

A representative from the Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism said the agency is coordinating with Cai Rang District authorities to verify the barge’s resumed operations and determine whether it complies with regulatory requirements.

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