Starting from the midnight on 22 April, Da Nang eased social distancing measures with many non-essential shops and businesses being allowed to reopen.

Accommodation establishments across the city are allowed to reopen their doors. However, staff of these establishments and guests are required to strictly follow the city’s drastic measures such as wearing face masks, cleaning their hands, and filling medical declarations.

Tourist coaches, contract cars and taxis are permitted to operate, but they are required to carry half of their designed capacity. All passengers must wear face masks, clean their hands before getting on/off vehicles, and keep a 2m distance away from others.

Local residents are allowed to participate in outdoor cultural and sports events, and go swimming, but large gatherings of more than 20 people are banned in the city.

Food and drink service providers in the city are permitted to operate, but their takeaway and delivery services are encouraged. Customers must keep a safe distance from one other while dining at eateries.

However, the city has extended the suspension of some services in the city until further notice as part of preventive measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

The suspension has been imposed on subsidised intra-city and inter-provincial buses, and inland waterway passenger services.

The city has ordered entertainment areas and tourist sites to remain closed. In addition, restrictions are still imposed on large group activities, including religious festivals and sports events.

The city government is suspending operations of entertainment facilites like bars, karaoke bars, massage parlours, spas, libraries, yoga, swimming pools, cinemas, billiards clubs, indoor entertainment areas, casinos, and prize-winning electronic games for foreigners.

The municipal Department of Education and Training will allow pupils from primary to senior high schools to come back to school on 4 May, and kids from preschools will return to school on 11 May.

The Da Nang authorities have lifted mandatory 14-day quarantine orders for all arrivals from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, including returning residents, in designated sites. However, the city has ordered a 14-day self-isolation for anyone arriving in the city from 23 April from Vietnamese localities with high numbers of infections in order to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus.

All residents are asked to continue to stick to the recommendations of refraining from going out and gathering in large crowds of more than 20 people.

By PHAN CHUNG - Translated by MAI DUNG