To avoid large gatherings to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and follow directions of Hanoi city’s leaders, Hoan Kiem district decided to suspend the organisation of activities on the district’s pedestrian streets from August 21. The pedestrian streets include those around Hoan Kiem Lake, its neighbouring streets in the Old Quarter, such as Hang Dao, Hang Giay and Dong Xuan Night Market. According to Vice Chairman of the Hoan Kiem district People’s Committee Dinh Hong Phong, these streets often attract a large number of people which poses high risks for the spread of the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 without appropriate preventive measures. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Activities on Hoan Kiem district’s pedestrian streets will only be organised again after the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee has new directions. This is the second time the district decided to close these pedestrian streets since the COVID-19 pandemic started to hit the country in early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic returned in Vietnam on July 25, when the first domestically transmitted case was recorded in the central city of Da Nang after 99 days without any infections in the community. As of the end of August 21, the country had reported a total of 1,009 COVID-19 cases and 25 COVID-19-related fatalities with underlying health conditions. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
On August 21 evening, after the suspension of entertainment activities, pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake became empty. At normal weekends, pedestrian streets, including those around Hoan Kiem Lake, its neighbouring streets in the Old Quarter such as Hang Dao, Hang Giay and Dong Xuan Night Market, often attract a large number of people. The ‘walking street’ around Hoan Kiem Lake, for example, draws an average of around 3,000 - 5,000 visitors during the day and 15,000-20,000 at night. Large gatherings here pose high risks for COVID-19 spreading without appropriate preventive measures, said Vice Chairman of the Hoan Kiem district People’s Committee Dinh Hong Phong. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Places which used to be full of people at weekends are currently empty. The walking streets in Hoan Kiem district are open from Friday night to Sunday night, from 19:00 to 24:00 in summer and from 18:00 to 24:00 in winter. Earlier this year, the local government decided to suspend the weekend walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake as well as public activities in the area from February 7 due to the threat of the COVID-19 and to avoid mass gatherings. It was reopened on May 15 after social distancing measures were lifted. The pedestrian streets in downtown Hanoi has become a brand name, a cultural venue, and a highlight of the capital city (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The announcement of Hoan Kiem district requests the limitation of mass gatherings to support disease prevention and control efforts. Therefore, cultural and entertainment activities on the district’s pedestrian streets have been suspended from August 21. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Vietnam again on July 25, when the first domestically transmitted case was recorded in the central city of Da Nang after 99 days without any infections in the community. As of the end of August 21, the country had reported a total of 1,009 COVID-19 cases and 25 COVID-19-related fatalities with underlying health conditions. The total number of recoveries in Vietnam has reached 545. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Hoan Kiem district currently has three walking spaces, including streets around Hoan Kiem Lake, Hang Dao – Dong Xuan night market, and Hanoi Old Quarter preservation zone. The pedestrian streets in downtown Hanoi has become a brand name, a cultural venue, and a highlight of the capital city. Hanoi ranks 15th in the list of 25 most popular destinations of the 2020 Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards. According to the famous American travel website, the charming Vietnamese capital has aged well, preserving the Old Quarter, monuments and colonial architecture, while making room for modern developments alongside. Lakes, parks, shady boulevards and over 600 temples and pagodas add to the appeal of this city, which is easily explored by taxi, it noted. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The ‘walking space’ around Hoan Kiem Lake alone draws an average of around 3,000-5,000 visitors during the day and 15,000-20,000 at night. Hanoi has set itself a target to welcome about 11 million domestic tourists by the end of 2020. The Hanoi Old Quarter is the most popular destination in the capital city. Tourists come here to explore ancient streets, craft products, local food or experience lives there. In the evening, streets become more crowded and lively with Hang Dao–Dong Xuan night fair and outdoor music performances. Since 2016, Hanoi has allowed Hoan Kiem district to pilot the extension of opening hour of bars and restaurants to 2am. As a result, their revenues increased by about 30 percent. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Many cultural, artistic and sport activities are often organised here, attracting a large number of people. This can result in spreading the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 if no appropriate preventive measures are taken. More than 100,000 people have reportedly returned from Da Nang – a COVID-19 hotspot - to Hanoi, including some 77,150 returnees from July 15. The city has carried out quick testing for more than 75,100 people and PCR, a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, testing for 50,602 others. The city is striving to quickly complete the implementation of RT-PCT testing for all people who visited Da Nang and returned to Hanoi from July 15-29 to August 20. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Benches around Hoan Kiem Lake are also empty. Local residents are advised not to gather in groups of more than 30 people in public places and visit the health facilities if they have such symptoms as high fever and difficulty in breathing. It is reported that more than 100,000 people have returned from Da Nang – a COVID-19 hotspot - to Hanoi, including some 77,150 returnees from July 15. The city has carried out quick testing for more than 75,100 people and PCR, a real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, testing for 50,602 others. The city is striving to quickly complete the implementation of RT-PCT testing for all people who visited Da Nang and returned to Hanoi from July 15-29 to August 20. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Few motorbikes are seen on Hanoi Old Quarter streets at night. The capital city’s authorities have recently issued an urgent dispatch, asking for stricter implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures following new cases of community transmission discovered in the capital city. The municipal People’s Committee ordered leaders of districts, communes and wards across the city to mobilise people to strictly take prevention measures, particularly wearing face masks and not gathering more than 30 people in public areas. Those who have underlying diseases, the elderly and those at high risk of infection are encouraged to not go out unless really necessary. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
All citizens are required to make health declarations when experiencing symptoms of fever, coughing and breathing difficulties and go to the nearest medical establishments for further guidance. The Hanoi People’s Committee also requests service providers, restaurants, bars and coffee shops to implement social distancing for customers by arranging seats at least one metre from each other from 00:00 on August 19. All staff of restaurants, bars and coffee shops are required to wear face masks and measure customers’ body temperatures. The municipal Department of Health is required to strengthen preventive measures, enhance contact tracing and testing to prevent further spreading of the disease among the community. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district decided to suspend the organisation of cultural and artistic activities on the district’s pedestrian streets from August 21 to avoid large gatherings to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and follow directions of the capital city’s leaders. The pedestrian streets include those around Hoan Kiem Lake, its neighbouring streets in the Old Quarter, such as Hang Dao, Hang Giay and Dong Xuan Night Market. According to Vice Chairman of the district People’s Committee Dinh Hong Phong, these streets often attract a large number of people which poses high risks for the spread of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 without appropriate preventive measures. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
The announcement of Hoan Kiem district requests the limitation of mass gatherings to support disease prevention and control efforts. Therefore, cultural and entertainment activities on the district’s pedestrian streets have been suspended from August 21. The COVID-19 pandemic hit Vietnam again on July 25, when the first domestically transmitted case was recorded in the central city of Da Nang after 99 days without any infections in the community. As of the end of August 21, the country had reported a total of 1,009 COVID-19 cases and 25 COVID-19-related fatalities with underlying medical conditions. The total number of recoveries in Vietnam has been 545. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Places which used to be full of people at weekends are currently empty. The walking streets in Hoan Kiem District are open from Friday night to Sunday night, from 19:00 to 24:00 in summer and from 18:00 to 24:00 in winter. Earlier this year, the local government decided to suspend the weekend walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake as well as public activities in the area from February 7 due to the threat of the COVID-19 and to avoid mass gatherings. It was reopened on May 15 after social distancing measures were lifted. The pedestrian streets in downtown Hanoi has become a brand name, a cultural venue, and a highlight of the capital city (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
Activities on Hoan Kiem district’s pedestrian streets will only be organised again after the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee has new directions. This is the second time the district decided to close these pedestrian streets since the COVID-19 pandemic started to hit the country in early 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic returned in Vietnam on July 25, when the first domestically transmitted case was recorded in the central city of Da Nang after 99 days without any infections in the community. As of the end of August 21, the country had reported a total of 1,009 COVID-19 cases and 25 COVID-19-related fatalities with underlying medical conditions. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
People wear face masks when taking a rest at Ly Thai To Monument and Flower Garden next to Hoan Kiem Lake which often attracts a large number of visitors, especially children, at night. The capital city’s authorities have recently issued an urgent dispatch, asking for stricter implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control measures following new cases of community transmission discovered in the capital city. The municipal People’s Committee ordered leaders of districts, communes and wards across the city to encourage local people to strictly take prevention measures, particularly wearing face masks and not gathering more than 30 people in public areas. (Photo: VietnamPlus) 
First phase of human trials on a made-in-Vietnam COVID-19 vaccine could begin as early as this October. The Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals in Nha Trang city, partnering with New York-based Icahn School of Medicine and the global health non-profit organisation PATH, expects to conduct testing on small groups of volunteers in October-December this year. Phase 2, comprising larger groups of people, and Phase 3, comprising up to thousands, will be conducted at the beginning of 2021.The institute plans to submit documents for approval to the health ministry as early as April next year and claims to be capable of producing 30 million doses a year. By October 2021, the vaccine could be distributed to the general population. (Photo: VietnamPlus) VNA
