Since the Da Nang government imposed a ban on table service of food and beverage (F&B) establishments across the city, with only takeaway and home delivery services allowed on May 7, many brick-and-mortar venues are now observing strictly complying with these new mandatory restrictions. In a similar move, supermarkets and stores across the city are also committed to ensuring adequate supplies of essential goods to serve the daily needs of the local people with abundant and plentiful reserves. They also advised their customers to stick to online transactions as much as they can towards avoiding direct contact with others.

A supermarket on Yen Bai Street equipped with hand sanitizer, automatic disinfection chamber for customers. Photo: VAN HOANG

In Thanh Khe District for instance, some F&B stpres are also equipped with hand sanitizer, requiring customers to wear masks, stand apart to ensure safety against epidemics. Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyet, owner of Tuyet Sang cake shop (150 Le Do), said that she always obeyed and supported the city decision.

Tran Van An, the owner of the Loca coffee shop at 110 Nguyen Hoang, said that he has signed a commitment to strictly comply with the mandatory measures against the deadly virus, and only offer takeaway services.

Vu Thanh Tan, communications manager at Big C Vietnam, said that, in order to ensure the supplies of essential items amid complicated coronavirus resurgence, Big C Da Nang Mall is currently stockpiling commodities such as rice, sugar, salt, instant noodles, vermicelli, cooking oil and fish sauce with a volume of goods doubling the normal.

In terms of essential items for pandemic prevention and control such as face masks and antiseptic solutions, this mall has also stockpiled a large amount  consumable for the next four months.

In particular, Big C is operating a free-of-charge home delivery programme within a 10km radius applicable to bills worth 200,000 VND or more, thus helping customers to limit unnecessary movements and interpersonal contact.

In a similar move, in addition of ensuring an abundance in goods, the Son Tra Co.opmart supermarket is applying many online shopping channels such as making orders via phone numbers on Zalo: 02363.925.333, or via SaigonCoop app and Co.opmart Son Tra fanpage.

Organic food stores such as An Phu Farm on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street,  NongPro on Ngo Quyen Street, Vitamart and Organica on Nguyen Du Street, and Thu Bon Mart on Hoang Dieu Street are also launching delivery services.

Ms Le Thi Kim Phuong, the Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said that, in the current context of complicated COVID-19 crisis, her agency has compiled a list of nationwide trading establishments which ensure sufficient supplies of foodstuff for home delivery services to serve the essential needs of the general public.

In addition, all commercial centres, supermarkets, convenience stores, grocery shops and suppliers of basic necessities and those trading in medical masks, antiseptic hand sanitizers and medical equipment to draw up plans to stockpile goods and avoiding production of fake goods, goods hoarding to hike prices, and trade frauds.

Reporting by THU HA, QUYNH TRANG, VAN HOANG – Translating by A.T