Saigon street markets shut hastily as city intensifies Covid battle

By Huu Khoa, Quynh Tran June 20, 2021 | 08:01 pm PT

Vendors at several street markets in Saigon’s Binh Tan District and Thu Duc City fled with their goods when local authorities arrived to shut the areas on Sunday morning.

Amid the resurgent pandemic, the People’s Committee of HCMC on Saturday has announced to suspend temporary street markets, especially those located in industrial zones with a lot of workers.On Sunday morning, at a street market in Ho Van Tu and Doan Cong Hon streets in Thu Duc City, the local authorities arrived to penalty businessmen and women who ignore the new rules.

The city people’s committee announced on Saturday all temporary street markets would have to close, especially those in industrial zones with a lot of workers, amid a surge in Covis-19 cases.
One of the markets authorities visited to enforce this was on Ho Van Tu and Doan Cong Hon streets in Thu Duc City.

Seeing the local authorities, Bui Thi Hoa, owner of a flower shop, quickly uses pieces of cloth and paper to cover her flowers.But they still told me to go, or they will punish me. They have a new order, new we must accept it, everyone in this market do so, she said.

Seeing them, Bui Thi Hoa, owner of a flower shop, quickly covered her wares with cloth and paper.
She said: "They told me to go, warning they will punish me. They have new orders, and everyone in this market must accept it."

Many quickly run away with their goods when seeing the local authorities.

Many quickly shut shop and left with their goods on seeing the authorities.

A man prepares his cart, including durians, plastic cans, before moving to another place. The pandemic is so complicated, I will take some day off, stay at home for a while, the businessman said.

A man readies his cart, durians, plastic cans and all, to leave.
He said: "The pandemic is so unpredictable. I will take a few days off and stay at home for a while."

Duong Anh Dung (R) and his staff bring all of their goods from the pavement to their house, and put on a wire to prevent patrons from coming inside, maintaining social distance.

Duong Anh Dung (L) and his staff take their goods from the sidewalk into his house and block it with a string to prevent customers from coming inside.

A china and houseware store is required to shut down.If we have to close for two weeks, paying the rental and our staff would be a burden, said Hoa, owner of the stores.

A store selling china and home ware was shut down.
Hoa, its owner, lamented, "If we have to close for two weeks, paying the rent and salaries will be a burden."

A shop owner puts on a piece of paper telling people not to form a crowd of more than three.

A shop owner puts up a sign telling people not to form crowds of more than three.

At Thu Duc Market, shoppers buy food and other goods normally. The HCMCs department of industry and trade will advise people at the markets to maintain social distance.

At Thu Duc Market, food and other goods were sold normally. The HCMC Department of Industry and Trade will warn people in markets to maintain social distance and adopt Covid prevention measures.

The local authorities keep their watchful eyes at a street market on An Duong Vuong Street, which is located near districts 6, 10, and Binh Tan District.

Local officials keep watching at a street market on An Duong Vuong Street, which is situated near districts 6, 10, and Binh Tan District.

Not too far from that, another street market on An Duong Vuong Street (in Binh Tan District) attracts some vendors and buyers. In this An Lac Ward, three neighborhoods of around 60,000 people have been put under lockdown starting June 20.

Not too far away, another street market on An Duong Vuong Street (in Binh Tan District) had some vendors and buyers. Here, in An Lac Ward, three neighborhoods with around 60,000 residents have been placed under lockdown since June 20.

A street market near the Pouyuen Vietnam factory in Binh Tan District was empty on Sunday morning (R). The same market in early June (L).