On Saturday, a so-called Rice ATM and a ‘zero-VND Happy supermarket’ officially started to operate in the front of the Binh Thuan Ward Cultural House located at 230 Trung Nu Vuong Street, Hai Chau District, Da Nang.

Residents lining up two meter apart to wait for their turn to use the rice dispenser

On Saturday morning, 1.5 tonnes of rice were provided free to 750 residents across the city affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

After receiving free rice from the rice dispenser, each person, who visits the Happy Supermarket, is allowed to choose and buy 2 out of 6 products on supermarket shelves for zero dong. The store aims to supply those affected by Covid-19 with essential goods, such as eggs, cooking oil, soy sauce, fish sauce. 

A man choosing 2 essential items at the ‘zero-VND Happy supermarket’ after receiving 2kg of rice

As of Saturday morning, the Hai Chau District Young Entrepreneurs' Association had received nearly 200 million VND in donations to operate the rice dispenser and the Happy Supermarket.

The rice dispenser will run within 1 month and operate from 7.30am - 11.30am, and from 1.30pm - 5.30pm daily, except Sundays. It provides 2 kilograms of free rice for those in need. During that one-month period, the ‘zero-VND Happy supermarket’ will open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

By MAI QUE - Translated by MAI DUNG