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Workers clean up in front of Uncle Ho’s mausoleum when this place reopens on May 13 – Photo: AFP
Katie Lockhart She arrived in Vietnam in January, before Ho Chi Minh City had its first case. This is also the first stop on an American girl’s trip to Vietnam. She wrote on CNN about the isolation days and life in Hanoi after returning to the daily routine.
When I went north of Ho Chi Minh City to Da Nang, Hoi An, Hue, Tam Coc (Ninh Binh) and finally to Hanoi, I saw the Government quarantine communities at risk and locate people. contact patients and isolate anyone who comes in.
In mid-March, doctors and local officials came to my family home in Tam Coc to verify that the guests were safe.
People sit by the lake in Hanoi at 2-5 – Photo: AFP
Rapid management and understanding combined with strict government policies help Vietnam respond to outbreaks more effectively than most other countries.
Therefore, they can build safe spaces in stages. High-risk areas like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are subject to stricter regulations, including the closure of nonessential businesses, such as bars, karaoke, and sports venues. Gathering more than 10 people is also prohibited.
Although there are still some restrictions, last Friday Ho Chi Minh City lifted the ban with some nonessential shopping and entertainment facilities, such as bars, cinemas, and spas.
Hanoi also opens its doors this week, while the pedestrian streets and markets in the Hoan Kiem district reopen on May 15.
When the smell of smoke arose from the sidewalk and entered my room, I went out onto the balcony to look at the streets of Hanoi.
After a week with no new COVID-19 cases, the Vietnamese government lifted the social restraining order after 22 days, allowing some companies to reopen on April 23.
The signs of life began to appear from the previous day.
Street car horns grew louder as more motorcyclists hit the streets, small businesses cleaning the sidewalks in front of their stores, which is a good sign that the city was ready to reopen. plan.
City of smiles
After arriving in Hanoi in late March, I spent 22 days locked in a short-term rented apartment. On April 23, I can’t wait to see which restaurants and cafes in Hanoi receive visitors.
Street food stalls with small plastic chairs. The smell of boiled chicken and the whisper of local people flooded both sides of Chan Cam Street.
But not like pho, I need a cup of coconut coffee. So I went upstairs to my favorite coffee, Loading T. The owner’s smiling face said it all.
The tables around me were full of young people, speaking louder than usual, or perhaps because I was not used to this sound. But they are obviously excited to go back to coffee, which is an important part of youth culture in Vietnam.
People queue to wait for the rice in front of the Cathedral of Hanoi on April 27 – Photo: AFP
After eating 5 meals as 1 during the crash, I had to try the street food stalls. So, as soon as possible, I made a bowl of pan cha.
Located in a small alley in the old town is Hang Fansong Bun, one of the best bun shops in the city. As I passed the barbecue area, my mouth started to burn.
Promote internal tourism.
These days, there is no feeling that Hanoi is much different than before. Although everyone wears a mask in public and only 75% of companies have reopened, the city is returning to how it was before the outbreak.
Escape the devastation and impact of the disease in places like Italy and the United States, where the virus is like the breeze.
But for many Vietnamese in the tourism and hospitality industry, the impact of the epidemic is devastating. According to local media reports, Vietnam lost $ 7 billion in tourism revenue in the first two months of the year.
Now the rehabilitation is focused on tourism. On April 23, the Ministry of Transport began increasing domestic flights and trains to major destinations, although passenger capacity was still limited.
But many hotels have decided to close until mid-May or later due to a lack of guests, while some travel companies like Heritage Cruises remain closed until the end of the year.
When the government announced that the situation was safe and reopened in late April, I planned a trip to Sapa to support local businesses and breathe fresh air.
I can’t wait to walk through rice fields, photograph water buffalo, and feel the nature around me.
