Very early birds avoid Hanoi Covid checkpoints

A street market on Nga Tu So Street is packed with early risers Thursday morning, even though the city has banned street markets to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
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.

People go to the market before dawn to avoid Covid checkpoints and local authorities, who will ask them for shopping vouchers or approval documents if they want to venture out.

Many shoppers said they chose street markets because they are convenient and quick, and do not require shopping vouchers provided by the authorities.

Another street market on Lang Street is filled with shoppers at 5 a.m. Sellers display their goods on the pavement and buyers park on the street, often ignoring social distancing rules.

While people are wearing masks, many fail to keep their distance from others.

According to local authorities, these markets make it difficult to contact trace an infected seller or buyer.

A buyer arranges her vegetable purchases before setting out for hone.

Lang Ha Ward police arrive at the market and tell people to disperse. In the photo, the vendor selling longans tries to flee, but does not succeed.

Police seize vegetables sold in a street market.
As of Friday morning, Hanoi has recorded 2,258 Covid cases in the current outbreak, starting on April 27.