The COVID-19 resurgence in some Vietnamese localities have turned complicated as people across Viet Nam are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival, the biggest traditional festival of Vietnamese people, will begin on 12 February. In order to ensure safety and peace for the public across Viet Nam during the year’s biggest traditional festival, more than ever, measures against the deadly virus has been put at highest level throughout the country, and Da Nang is no exception.

Staff and shoppers at the Big C Mall have always obeyed the face mask rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus

Da Nang functional bodies are increasingly inspecting the practice of pandemic prevention measures in workplaces, residential areas, and especially such places facing a high risk of coronavirus infections as traditional markets, supermarkets, shopping malls, shops and tourist attractions,

As observed by DA NANG Newspaper reporters, over recent few days, the bustling trading atmosphere has been recorded at traditional markets, supermarkets and convenience stores across the city.

The number of shoppers has increased by 50 - 60% compared to normal days. The amount of goods on display for sale has also climbed sharply to meet the growing shopping needs of people for Tet.

According to Ms Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Head of Communications at the Central Retail Group in Viet Nam, from now to the end of 30^th day of the 12^th lunar month (11 February), the purchasing power of essential goods at the Big C Mall is expected to have increased by about 300% compared to normal days.

The source of goods on display at this mall is always in abundance, especially a week ahead of Tet when the purchasing power often see a sharp hike.

Staff and shoppers at the Big C Mall have always obeyed the face mask rules. 

In addition, such some downtown markets as Han and Con, have seen the strict practice of the pandemic prevention solutions.

All market stallholders and market-goers, plus workforce staffing the traditional markets must ensure good practices of preventive measures by wearing face coverings, using sanitizer gel, maintaining safe distance from others, and undergoing compulsory body temperature measurements.

Clean water, soap bars and hand sanitizer gel are always available in these traditional markets.

All market stallholders and market-goers, plus workforce staffing the Con Market must ensure good practices of preventive measures by wearing face coverings, using sanitizer gel, maintaining safe distance from others, and undergoing compulsory body temperature measurements.

Most of clothes shops along the downtown streets of Le Duan, Hung Vuong and Nguyen Van Linh demand that their customers wear face masks and wash their hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer available there before entering the inside for purchases. Even, masks are also available at the entrance to some of these venues for their handover to those leave theirs at home unintentionally.

In a similar vein, staff working at bookstores, restaurants, eateries and cafes also comply with the face mask rules.

Meanwhile, at local crowded traffic transport hubs as the Da Nang inter-provincial coach station and the airport, most passengers have seen wearing masks and strictly complying with the compulsory precautions against the coronavirus.

Mr Pham Loi, General Director of Da Nang-based Transportation and Bus Station Management JSC, said that 37 ticketing counters at the city’s inter-provincial coach station are selling tickets for Tet around the clock.

The staff there have tasked themselves with recording the address and phone numbers of coach ticket purchasers and asked them to make health declaration.

Suspension has been imposed on passenger transport services connecting Da Nang with Vietnamese coronavirus-hit localities. Till date local COVID-19 infections have spread to 12 cities and provinces in Viet Nam.

Meanwhile, train passengers must be present at the city’s railway stations at least 30 minutes before the departure time to conduct precautionary procedures against the coronavirus such as health declarations and body temperature measurements. 

Likewise,  all visitors to such popular attractions such as the Marble Mountains Tourist Area and the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture are required to wear face masks and wash their hands with sanitizer gel and undergo compulsory body temperature measurements at the entrance gates.

By KHANH HOA, PHUONG UYEN, THU HA – Translated by A.T