With Vietnam’s new Covid-19 outbreak contained, some localities have

allowed beaches and entertainment services to reopen though anti-pandemic

measures remain in place.
Quang Nam in central Vietnam, home to UNESCO heritage sites - Hoi An
ancient town and My Son Sanctuary, reopened public beaches from Thursday.
The province boasts a long coastline of 125 km and is home to the beautiful Ha
My, Cua Dai and An Bang beaches, as well as Cham Islands.

However, beach-goers are required to keep a distance of two meters.

My Son Sanctuary, a complex of abandoned and partly ruined temples

constructed between the 4th and 14th centuries by Cham ethnic people,
reopened to visitors starting from Thursday.

Earlier, Quang Nam was a major Covid-19 hotspot, boasting the second
highest number of domestic infections at 96 after Da Nang since July 25 as a
second Covid-19 outbreak returned to the community.

Hoi An, a famous tourist town, ended its social distancing measures last week
and allowed restaurants, food stalls and tourist attractions to reopen though
most of the town remained deserted.

Nearby Thua Thien-Hue Province, home to the former imperial capital of Hue,
reopened karaokes, massage parlors, bars and cinemas from Thursday.

Northern port city Hai Phong allowed entertainment businesses like karaoke
parlors, dance clubs and bars to reopen from Tuesday, encouraging residents
to wear masks and avoid large crowds.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau, home to popular beach town Vung Tau, also allowed "non-
essential" services like karaoke parlors, bars and dance clubs to resume
operations from Tuesday, as well as cultural festivals, religious events and
sports. However, Vung Tau has still kept its public beaches close.

Last month, acting Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said "the outbreaks in
Da Nang, Quang Nam, Hai Duong and other localities are basically under
control."

Vietnam has recorded 1,046 Covid-19 cases so far, 262 still active. A total 35
Covid-19 patients have died. 691 community transmission cases, 550 of them
linked to Da Nang City, have been recorded since July 25.
Tourism revenues fell 61.8 percent over July to VND974 billion ($42 million)
in August as the Covid-19 resurgence slashed travel demand. Since July 25
when the second Covid-19 outbreak arose, many localities closed tourist
attractions and deployed anti-pandemic measures to curb the spread of
domestic infections.

Revenues for the first eight months reached VND13.1 trillion ($569 million),
down 54.4 percent year-on-year, compared to a corresponding 10 percent
growth last year, according to the General Statistics Office.

The tourism sector served 3.77 million visitors in the first eight months, down
66.6 percent year-on-year, with the government closing borders and canceling
all international flights except for special cases like repatriation since March
and the entry of foreign experts and skilled workers under stringent
conditions.

Ho Chi Minh City, which has recorded eight local cases of transmission since
July 25, has banned gatherings of more than 30 people and ordered all bars
and dance clubs to close since July.

Hanoi has shut down bars and karaoke parlors as well as banned crowded
events like festivals and fairs since late July. All restaurant, cafe and pub staff
have to wear masks and customers must sit a meter apart.