Covid checkpoints proliferate in Hanoi's Old Quarter

By Giang Huy August 12, 2021 | 10:25 pm PT

Hanoi authorities have set up multiple Covid-19 checkpoints in the downtown area to enforce the tougher social distancing measures mandated by the government's Directive 16.

Authorities stretched ropes around Hoan Kiem Lake to prevent people in the old town and surrounding areas from walking out here to exercise. Security forces constantly patrol to remind violations.After two weeks of applying Directive 16, from August 6, Hanoi will continue the city-wide social distancing until 6 a.m. on August 23.

Officials have barricaded the sidewalks around the iconic Hoan Kiem Lake to prevent people coming there to exercise. Authorities have constant patrols there to remind people and nab violators.
After two weeks of implementing Directive 16, that requires people to stay at home and only go out for necessities such as buying food or medicines or to work at factories or businesses that are allowed to open, initially, Hanoi has extended it until August 23.

Mrs. Thuy (right corner), living in Thuoc Bac street (Hoan Kiem district) receives her childs supplies through a hard post. Since the quarantine, Ive only been at home. I just met my children and grandchildren today, so Im very happy, she said. Hard pegs are pegs that are tensioned or to erect baries across the road, absolutely not allowing people to pass through.

Thuy (right), who lives on Thuoc Bac Street in Hoan Kiem District, picks up food brought by her children.
"I've been at home since the semi-lockdown began. I only met my children and grandchildren today, and so I'm very happy," she said.
Hanoi has two types of Covid checkpoints, one unmanned and with barricades that do not allow vehicles to pass through, and the other with police officers who check people’s documents and allow them to pass.

At the soft stop on Hang Vai Street, the functional forces of Hang Bo ward check the peoples travel papers and identity papers.The soft latch has a regular duty force, who has all the required documents to go back and forth.

At a checkpoint on Hang Vai Street, Hang Bo Ward militia and police check a man's ID and documents stating reasons for travel.

Because the house is far from the soft peg, some people go through the hard peg on Hang Thiec street to buy things close by.

People ignore warnings and go through a barricade on Hang Thiec Street.

People on Cong Duc Street stay at home, comply with regulations on epidemic prevention and control in the days of social distancing.

In addition to the hard latch, there is also a Green Zone on Hang Be Street to protect the area where no infections have been recorded.

Besides Covid-19 checkpoints, the city also erects "Green Zone" on Hang Be Street to protect the area where no infections have been recorded.

People in the dormitories in Van Chuong Street tie their own ropes to prevent strangers from entering and leaving, avoiding Covid-19 infection.On August 6, Hanoi President Chu Ngoc Anh asked districts to proactively call on people to set up checkpoints to protect green areas and self-govern to prevent epidemics and keep residential areas safe. Up to now, many units have established hundreds of posts in the area such as Hoang Mai more than 400, Hoan Kiem more than 200...

People living in dormitories on Van Chuong Street have put up their own barriers to keep strangers out.
Chu Ngoc Anh, chairman of the city People's Committee, has instructed districts to call on people to set up barriers to protect their ‘green zones’ to keep them safe. As of Friday morning, Hanoi has recorded 2,258 Covid cases in the current outbreak, starting on April 27.