Observations from our reporters on Tuesday morning indicated that people in Da Nang began to use QR code entry cards to the four wet markets, namely Han, Con, Dong Da and Hoa Cuong Wholesale. All of them showed strong support to the city’s new solution as part of preventative measures to control COVID-19.  

The new solution named the eTicket-Da Nang app aims to manage entries and exits at these wet markets. Simply put, checks are conducted through smart phones/ tablet devices by scanning the QR codes for confirmation. It will support the city’efforts in contact tracing if postive cases of COVID-19 are reported in any markets in the city.

The eTicket-Da Nang app was introduced in the 4 four markets on a trial basis from May 24.

A trial period only allows residents in the 5 wards in Hai Chau District, namely Hai Chau 1, Hai Chau 2, Thanh Binh, Thuan Phuoc, Hoa Cuong Nam to use QR code entry cards to the four above-mentioned wet markets.

A woman shows her QR Code entry card to a guard at Con Market on Tuesday morning. Photo: VAN HOANG

Ms Nguyen Thi Kim, a resident of Hai Chau 2 Ward, Hai Chau District, has used entry card with a QR code to the Con Market for the first time. She saved QR code on her phone, and showed it to guards staffing at this market to scan for confirmation. Her QR code scanning procedures were done quickly by guards here, and they accepted her entry to this market.

"The use of QR code entry cards to the traditional markets is very useful and convenient to market-goers. We don't need to worry about losing our paper entry cards. This is a great initiative, helping to save time for both guards staffing at these venues and market-goers.", said Mrs. Kim.

Mr. Pham Minh Vuong , a resident of Vinh Trung Ward, Thanh Khe District, also said that entry cards with QR codes do not make users more difficult than paper ones without codes. Senior citizens only need to bring QR code entry cards to the market. Otherwise, you can save QR code on your phone to scan for confirmation to enter the market without using paper cards.

According to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Tuan, Deputy Head of Management Board (MB) of Con Market, the use of QR code entry card is very helpful to market management staff to control entries and exits at this venue. If a green colour appears on the screen after scanning QR codes of market-goers, they will be allowed entry to the market. If the code is red, the guards will deny entry to its users because their entry cards do not match permitted dates written on them.

According to Mr. Diep Hoang Thong Anh, Head of Hoa Cuong Wholesale Market Management Board, 10 employees at this market have been trained to install and use the eTicket-Da Nang app to scan QR codes for market-goers.

On arrival at the market, people show their QR code entry cards to guards to scan for confirmation. Photo: VAN HOANG

Picture is taken at the Hoa Cuong Wholesale Market. Photo: QUYNH TRANG

Reporting by VAN HOANG – QUYNH TRANG