Pedestrian streets, night markets closed amid surge in Covid-19 community transmissions

The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has closed the pedestrian zones and night market in its resort town Da Lat since 7 p.m. Monday until further notice.

Da Lat, much loved for its year-round cool climate, green pine forests and misty landscape, was the most sought for holiday destination by Vietnamese travelers for their recent national holiday (April 30-May 3), according to Booking.com, the world's biggest accommodation website.

Central city Da Nang, where one community transmission was confirmed Tuesday, also shut down pedestrian streets and night market as well as closed its beaches amid high risks of infection.

The Da Nang case, 28, resided in Hoi An Town of Quang Nam Province before relocating to neighboring Da Nang for work on April 29.

Ancient town Hoi An, a UNESCO heritage site, has suspended all pedestrian zones since Monday night. Central Khanh Hoa Province also shut the pedestrian zones and night market in its beach town Nha Trang on Sunday.

Linh Ung Pagoda on famed Son Tra Peninsula in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo by Shutterstock/Andy Tran.

Hanoi, where four community transmissions have been recorded, has closed all historical and religious sites since Monday while Ha Nam, around 60 kilometers from the capital and a current coronavirus hotspot, stopped receiving visitors at its tourist and religious sites.

Vinh Phuc, home to popular resort town Tam Dao, suspended public entertainment and sports activities, allowing gatherings of no more than 20 people at religious sites. The northern province has been dealing with an outbreak starting from a local bar visited by a group of Chinese experts that tested positive for the coronavirus after returning to China. So far, 14 people, including 13 in Vinh Phuc and one in Hanoi have been infected from the Chinese.

Earlier, many provinces and cities across the country including major cities Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City had closed non-essential services like bars, discotheques, internet stores, and karaoke parlors.

After over a month of no Covid-19 community transmissions, 36 new domestic cases have been confirmed by the Health Ministry since last Thursday. The resurgence of community transmissions came as Vietnamese entered a four-day holiday that wrapped up Monday, seeing top tourist destinations in Vietnam overrun by holiday crowds.