The Cai Rang Floating Market, Vietnam: Towards Pro-Poor Tourism?

esources and, if well designed and managed, markets will become the unique
tourism products of Vietnam (Hoang & Tran, 2010).
There is no doubt that if well designed and managed, markets are not only a place for
doing business but also an attraction for tourists who want to explore local culture
and authenticity. Tourist spending on local products at these markets can also support
the local economy and potentially the poor. In simple terms, markets such as Can
Tho represent a potentially important place for tourism to support poverty
alleviation.
2.4 The Vietnam Context
2.4.1 Vietnam poverty measurement
Vietnam is a densely populated developing country. In the last 35 years the country
has had to recover from the ravages of war, the loss of financial support from the old
Soviet Bloc, and the challenges associated with a centrally planned economy. In the
1980s, Vietnam was one of the poorest countries in the world (Le & Koo, 2007).
Since the Doi Moi (‗renovation‘) policies were adopted in 1986, Vietnam has
achieved outstanding results in its economic performance (Cooper, 2000). From a
stagnating economy characterised by poor macroeconomic performance, and with
low growth, high unemployment and hyperinflation, Vietnam has turned itself into
one of the fastest growing economies in the world, with average annual GDP growth
of 7.2% during the decade prior to the 2008–2009 economic slow-down (Le & Koo,
2007, World Bank, 2010). Moreover, the Vietnamese Government has successfully
translated economic growth into social improvements, lifting some 35 million people
out of poverty during that period (World Bank, 2010).
Vietnam‘s performance in poverty reduction over the last two decade is considered a
successful case in poverty reduction among developing countries. The country‘s
poverty rate halved in less than ten years (Vu, 2009): in 1993, 58% of the population
lived below the poverty line, but by 2002 this proportion had declined to 29% (Le &
Koo, 2007). And this reduction has continued: in 2009 it was estimated that 12.3% of
the population lived below the poverty line (Central Intelligence Agency, 2010). The
Vietnamese government hopes to decrease the number of poor households to 11% by
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