Hanoians line up at restaurants as authorities ease Covid restrictions

Many people were spotted lining up outside a pho shop on Nguyen Son Street at 8 a.m.

Starting September 9 a few wards in Long Bien District have allowed food and beverage sellers to open after two months though only for takeout.

On Monday, people arrived early and lined up to wait for their turn. All had face masks on.

Tran Thi Thuy, owner, said she has been selling more than 1,000 bowls of pho a day since reopening.
"I'm very happy that everyone's life is gradually returning to normal."

People usually buy two to four portions of pho from Thuy.

After queuing for 15 minutes, Minh bought two bowls for VND80,000 ($3.53).
"After days of craving, I am very excited to eat pho again," he said.

After nearly two months of closure, Hoang Thi Hai Yen, the owner of an eatery selling sticky rice on Ngoc Lam Street, is busy preparing food for customers.
She said: "During a month and a half of social distancing all my activities were confined to my house. Perhaps that is why not only sellers like me, but also buyers feel very happy and excited to venture out and buy food."

"Of course there are certain difficulties in reopening the shop at this time. I have a labor shortage since many of my employees are still [at home] in the countryside. Buying ingredients is another challenge since I am allowed to go the supermarket only on certain days of the week. So it is not easy. But just being able to sell food again is fun.
"Some days I even run out of food to sale. Probably because people crave eating out again after being cooped up at home for so many days. I try not to increase prices though everything more expensive because I think keeping customers is the most important right now."

Holding two boxes of sticky rice in his hand, Ngo Tien Dat of Ngoc Lam Ward said being cooped up in the house for more than a month made him feel uneasy.
Sausage and sticky rice is one of his favorite breakfast dishes, and being able to go out and buy breakfast and enjoy some fresh air makes him happier, he said.

Customers also lined up outside a milk tea shop about one kilometer away.
The capital has recorded 4,053 Covid-19 cases in the fourth wave that began in late April, including 41 on Monday.