While more than 100 ethnic Vietnamese families out of the 300 living in floating houses on the Tonle Sap River in Kampong Chhnang province are willing to be relocated, a small number are holding out.

A Vietnamese national who wished to remain anonymous said the remaining families were hesitant to move as the new location is too far, making it difficult to earn a living and for their children to go to school.

But the province’s Vietnamese Association head, Bour Yang Bea, welcomed the authority’s decision.

“It’s good when we move to land. They can get benefits such as access to hospital and school and find jobs. Some don’t want to move because they worry about the loss of income,” he said.