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HanoiThe smell of smoke entered the room, Katie Lockhart got up and ran to the balcony, but found that the owner was turning yellow underneath.
Katie Lockhart, an American tourist who arrived in Vietnam in January and was trapped by Covid-19, has now come to Sapa to travel after social isolation. Here are his impressions of Vietnam during this period.
After a week with no new cases of nCoV, the Vietnamese government continued to bridge the social gap, allowing some services to reopen on April 23.
On the streets, the hustle and bustle is gradually being filled by more people riding motorcycles on the street, as store owners begin cleaning the sidewalk on the porch. Those are good signs that Hanoi is ready to reopen.
People sat iced tea at sunset in Hanoi on 2/5. Image: Manan Vatsyayana / AFP.
Act quickly
As of May 15, the number of people infected with nCoV is just over 300 and there are no deaths. This figure is much lower than in other countries in the region, such as Thailand registered more than 3,000 cases, Malaysia about 7,000 and Singapore has more than 25,000 cases. Vietnam has acted faster than most other places in the world to stop the epidemic: It closed its border with China in late January, and stopped issuing visas to restrict the entry of foreigners.
I arrived in Vietnam in January, before the first nCoV infection appeared in Ho Chi Minh City, my first stop on a tour. When I arrived in Da Nang, Hue, Hoi An, Tam Coc and finally Hanoi, I witnessed how the government carefully quarantined communities at risk, people monitored for their health status, and anyone who enters the country is quarantined. .
On days of social isolation, my 3-month tourist visa expired. But luckily, they allowed me to extend for another 3 months. In mid-March, doctors and local government staff came to the family home where I stayed at Tam Coc to make sure that the visitors were safe and that there were no cases of nCov infection.
Workers clean the lawn in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum on May 13 as this attraction begins to welcome visitors. Image: Nhac Nguyen / AFP.
More regularly than the clock bell, every morning and afternoon, I hear updates on the disease situation from speakers on the street transportation. They update the information in the most complete, detailed and quick way possible. Rapid government management and understanding of its people, combined with strict policies, have helped Vietnam eliminate nCoV more effectively than most countries in the world.
And thanks to that, they can remove restrictions, social distance safely and slowly in stages. High-risk areas like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have stricter regulations that include closing non-essential services such as bars, cafes, karaoke venues, and canceling sporting events. Gathering more than 10 people is also prohibited.
Although there are still some restrictions, on May 9, Ho Chi Minh City lifted the ban on recreational facilities and nonessential businesses. After a few days, Hanoi also reopened its historical attractions. The pedestrian street will resume operations on May 15.
City of smiles
After traveling north and arriving in Hanoi in late March, I spent 22 days in isolation in my rented apartment. On April 23, I couldn’t wait to see which restaurants and cafes in town were welcoming. Street food stalls were the first to operate. The smell of boiled chicken and the boisterous sound of the locals chatting merrily filled the streets of Chan Cam.
Egg coffee, pho … are the dishes in Hanoi that are popular with international tourists. Video: CNN
The first thing I want to enjoy after the social break is a coffee with egg. When I went upstairs to my favorite cafe, the owner’s smiling face said it all. He showed me a seat, gave me the menu. Although I know exactly what I need to call, I have never been excited to flip through menu pages like this.
The tables around me were full of young guests, were talking louder than usual, or I wasn’t used to it. But anyway, they are obviously happy.
After having to cook for myself on the days of social isolation, as soon as possible, I went down to the street and ate bun cha. The store is located in a small alley in Hang fan. This is one of the best delicacies in this city and when I think of the bun cha bowl, I start to salivate. Upon arrival, I was surprised that dozens of tables were full.
Promote internal tourism.
Domestic tourism is operating again, as airlines begin to increase flights, hotels across the country are open to receive guests.
These days, everyone wears a mask when they go to public places, about 75% of businesses reopen. I don’t think the city has changed much because of Covid-19, it is still the same as before when the pandemic did not appear. Vietnam escapes the devastation and injuries of Covid-19, unlike Italy or the United States. However, I still know that the tourism and hospitality industries are seriously affected. Many hotels still decide to close until mid-May, or later due to fewer guests. Some cruise companies that specialize in yachts will remain closed until the end of the year.
Still, when the government announced that everything was safe and activities were slowly recovering in late April, I planned a trip to Sapa to help local businesses and enjoy the environment. Cool. I look forward to walking through terraced fields, taking pictures of the buffalo plow and the beautiful unspoiled nature. On May 15, the resort in Sapa opened its doors to the first guests, and I am delighted to be one of them.
Lord minh (Follow CNN)
