Hanoians embrace outdoor exercise after month-long lockdown

By Giang Huy, Vo Hai   September 28, 2021 | 12:04 am PT
People in Hanoi flocked to areas around Sword Lake and West Lake to enjoy open-air exercises after nearly three months of prohibition.
At 4 a.m. on September 28, many people began to flock to the area around Sword Lake to exercise. From today (September 28), Hanoi allows people to do outdoor sports activities, but no more than 10 people.

Many people came to Sword Lake to exercise at 4 a.m.
Starting Tuesday, Hanoians are allowed to participate in sport and physical exercises outdoors, but not in groups larger than 10.

Near 5am, hundreds of people cycling around Hoan Kiem Lake divided into different groups.Hanoi allows some activities and service facilities to reopen in the context of the recent number of new Covid-19 cases averaging less than 10 cases per day. From 6pm on September 27 to 6am on September 28, Hanoi did not record new cases. This is the 4th morning in a row, the city has not recorded new positive cases.

Groups of people cyclearound Sword Lake around 5 a.m.
Hanoi has allowed some activities and services to reopen since daily new Covid cases have averaged less than 10 per day. This city has not recorded new positive cases for the fourth morning in a row.

On the sidewalk by Hoan Kiem Lake, in the past days, the management board erected fences and stretched ropes to prevent travel, but now the ropes have been removed for people to exercise.Hanoi social distance according to directive 16 from July 24, but outdoor exercise activities are banned from July 8.

Authorities had previously erected barriers to prevent people from coming to the Sword Lake sidewalks to exercise.
To curb Covid, the capital applied social distancing measures under Directive 16 from July 24 onwards. The directive comprises the country’s most stringent social distancing regulations, requiring residents to stayhome and only go out for basic necessities such as buying food or medicines or to work at factories or businesses allowed to open.
However, outdoor exercise was banned from July 8.

People exercise on the sidewalk of Hoan Kiem Lake. On the opposite side, in the area of Ly Thai To flower garden, the authorities still stretched the rope to restrict access.Swinging her arms to practice with the people next to her, Ms. Luu Thi Hoa (Hang Buom, Hoan Kiem) said the house is a few dozen meters away from the lake, but it has been more than two months since I have been to the lake to breathe natural air.

Luu Thi Hoa of Hoan Kiem District said: "My house is situated a few dozen meters away from the lake, but it has been more than two months since I have been able to come here and breathe in some fresh air."

A resident wearing a hat with a splash screen rides a bicycle on Dinh Tien Hoang Street. Hanoi allows people to exercise again with the requirement of strictly implementing 5K and other epidemic prevention and control measures.

A resident wearing a hat with a front shield rides a bicycle along Dinh Tien Hoang Street.
Hanoi authorities urged people to still strictly follow epidemic prevention and control measures when going outside.

A group of young people play soccer in Lenin Park.Hanoi has not yet reopened parks and flower gardens, so people can only exercise in open parks and flower gardens (without fences).

A group of men play football on the sidewalk by Lenin Park.
Hanoi has not yet reopened parks and flower gardens, so people can only exercise incertain public areas.

The area around Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is also a favorite place for people to exercise outdoors.

The area around Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is also a favorite place for people to exercise outdoors.

A group exercises to music and has a coach on the sidewalk of Thanh Nien street, on the side of Truc Bach lake.

A group exercises to music by Truc Bach Lake.

Group of young people cycling on Long Bien bridge.Previously, on September 21, after two months of social distancing under Directive 16, Hanoi moved down to apply Directive 15. Many activities and service and business establishments have been reopened by the city. .

Cyclists cross Long Bien Bridge.
Hanoi has recorded 4,202 Covid-19 cases since the fourth coronavirus wave hit Vietnam in late April. The capital began relaxing its coronavirus restrictions starting Sept. 21 after spending around two months under strict social distancing measures.

Hanoians walk and cycle around Sword Lake in the early morning of Sept. 28, 2021. Video by VnExpress/Giang Huy

 
 
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