Da Nang reopens public beaches with safeguards

However, swimming in beaches is only allowed from 4:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to reduce the risk of spread of infection.

People must wear masks, only swim in permitted areas and keep a distance of one meter from each other. No large gatherings are allowed, including for sports.

The popular tourist city has a coastline of 30 km, which includes many of Vietnam's most beautiful beaches like My Khe, Non Nuoc and Nam O.

Restaurants and eateries can serve customers, but not exceed half their covers, and must close by 9 p.m.

People with symptoms like fatigue, cough, fever, sore throat and breathing difficulty and those in mandatory home quarantine should not visit eateries, which are allowed to deny them entry.

But festivals and religious ceremonies remain prohibited until further notice, and bars, karaoke parlors, dance clubs, and massage parlors are not allowed to reopen.

In the fourth wave of Covid that has hit the country starting April 27, Da Nang has had 158 infections. On May 4 it suspended all non-essential business establishments and shut down beaches.

Neighboring Quang Nam Province reopened public beaches and allowed visitors to Hoi An, also a tourism hotspot, on May 25.

Thua Thien-Hue Province, home to tourist town Hue, allowed restaurants and other food establishments to reopen on June 5, but has not lifted the ban on swimming in beaches.