Saigon supermarkets to close at 5 pm

By Thi Ha July 26, 2021 | 12:17 am PT

People shop in a supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City on July 14, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.

All supermarkets in HCMC will close at 5 p.m. starting Monday to comply with the city’s suspension of night-time activities amid its Covid-19 battle.

Retail chains like VinMart and Co.opMart will operate from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.

Big C outlets will open 1.5 hours earlier at 7 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. Aeon Malls and Mega Market will also apply the same hours.

Most supermarkets in the city had shelves full of eggs, meat and vegetables Monday, with no sign of stockpiling.

Retail chains have been doubling or tripling their supply to fulfill demand. They also have delivery staff ready in case delivery platforms are banned.

HCMC banned people from leaving their homes except for emergencies after 6 p.m. starting Monday.

This is the latest effort to curb the spread of the fourth wave of Covid-19, in which over 62,100 cases have been confirmed in the city out of 97,400 nationwide.