Hanoi reopens bars, karaoke parlors and dance clubs

Chu Xuan Dung, deputy chairman of the municipal People's Committee, said all the establishments and local administrations will have to adopt Covid-19 prevention measures.

The city is also allowing functions that require large gatherings as long as they abide by the mandated pandemic prevention measures.

With the latest permission, Hanoi has reopened all businesses and services that had been suspended following the latest Covid-19 outbreak in the country. Bars, karaoke parlors, dance clubs and Internet cafes were suspended starting February 2, while restaurants, street tea stalls and cafes were ordered closed starting February 16.

While restaurants resumed operations on March 2, the internet cafes did so a fortnight later.

Street cafés, tea and food stalls are considered "spontaneous services" not expressly approved by city authorities.

As of Monday, Hanoi had gone over a month without a new domestic transmission of the novel coronavirus. The capital recorded 35 Covid-19 cases in the latest outbreak that was detected late January.