HCMC desolate on first day of social distancing

Hanoi Highway leading towards Saigon Bridge is left desolated on Friday morning following a social distancing order.

The order requires people to stay home and only go out for basic necessities and other emergencies. No more than two people can gather in public.

A section of Co Giang Street in downtown District 1 is blocked to restrict traffic.

The social distancing order also calls for the majority of public transportation to be shut down, with no travel to other localities.

No sight of people on Dong Khoi Street in front of HCMC Opera House.

Most shops and food retailers on Dong Khoi Street have shut. Only certain public service employees, including trash collectors, are still on the road.

Le Duan Roundabout in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica of Saigon sees virtually no traffic, though some people could be seen performing physical exercises nearby.

"Yesterday, there were still many people biking around here. But this morning it's completely empty," said Hoa, a gardener.

A man uses his mobile phone to record the desolation along the usually bustling Nguyen Hue walking street in District 1.

Nguyen Binh Khiem Street in front of the Saigon Zoo is mostly empty.

Few vehicles are seen on Nguyen Huu Canh Street, connecting with Thu Thiem Bridge.

Thu Thiem Tunnel leading to downtown HCMC also sees little to no traffic, compared to its typical rush hour congestion.

HCMC, now the nation's largest coronavirus hotspot in the fourth Covid-19 wave that hit in late April, has recorded 9,895 cases so far.