BackStories » Hanoi

in Hanoi

Hanoi Cinemas Finally Allowed to Reopen After Nine Months

Earlier this week, city authorities gave official permission for all cinemas and art venues to resume operations. 

in Saigon

Bars, Cinemas, Ride-Hailing Return to Saigon in Low-Risk Districts

Many previously suspended activities are allowed again in Saigon depending on their district’s COVID-19 risk assessment.

in Saigon

Saigon Restaurants, Cafes Resume In-Person Dining at 50% Capacity

What's the first restaurant on your list?

in Society

Spending Lockdown With Your Parents: Does Familiarity Breed Contempt?

The recent periods of social distancing have not only created opportunities for families to spend plenty of time together, but also created a lot of mental pressure when members scramble to find perso...

in Society

In Lockdown, Saigoneers Draw Strength From an Unexpected Wealth of Support: Each Other

They largely didn't know each other, except for their flatmates. Then the COVID-19 outbreak began, and they got closer. They are now more accommodating, caring and loving.

in Society

How Hanoi Residents and Collectives Look out for the City's Most Vulnerable

“He was so happy to be given rice. And he didn’t have a smartphone or anything like that. I felt I had helped someone that really needed help, and I felt very happy about that.”

in Hanoi

Hanoi Eases Lockdown Restrictions, Reopens Malls, Barbershops

Starting at 6am today, Hanoi began applying social distancing rules under the previous Directive 15, allowing various shops to reopen and businesses to function at 50% capacity.

in Saigon

Over 1,500 Schoolchildren Become Orphans Due to Saigon's Covid-19 Outbreak

The current COVID-19 crisis has crippled Saigon’s economy and disrupted the daily life of millions of people, but most tragically, it has also taken thousands of lives.

in Hanoi

19 Districts in Hanoi Allowed to Reopen Shops, Takeaway Service

Starting at noon today, districts with no new COVID-19 community transmission cases since September 6 are allowed to reopen various businesses and restaurants.

in Society

Love in the Time of Corona: Long-Distance Relationships When You're Just 1km Apart

In an ever-moving world, “long distance” has become a well-established concept in modern relationships. It’s easy to spot couples with one half living in a different time zone among our social circles...

in Saigon

Saigon to Resume Shipping Across Districts From September 16

After weeks of being banned, Saigon will soon allow shippers to deliver citywide.

in Saigon

Saigon's Lockdown to Be Extended, Likely Until End of Month

Hopefully you hadn't gotten too excited about September 15.

in Vietnam

As Lockdown Intensifies, Animal Shelters Struggle to Rescue, Care for Abandoned Pets

Even before the pandemic, pet shelters struggled to find the time, money and resources to provide adequate care for their resident animals. But as the COVID-19 crisis worsens, rescue groups are facing...

in Saigon

Saigon Allows Takeaway Again, but Few Vendors Can Afford to Reopen

Bún riêu, bún thịt nướng, phở, bánh mì, cơm tấm, we’ve missed you.

in Saigon

Stricter Lockdown Begins for Saigon at Midnight

Stay safe out there, Saigoneers.

in Arts & Culture

On the Other Side of the Window: a Peek into Different Worlds

in Saigon

Saigon Police Asked to Facilitate Transport to Airport

That's nice of them.

in Health

How One Group Is Working to Keep Children Mentally Stimulated During Lockdown

During Vietnam’s first COVID-19 wave, the charity organization Saigon Children worked to make sure vulnerable households had access to necessities like food, medicine and drinking water.

in Health

Saigon Told to Control Covid-19 Outbreak by Mid-September

Could September 15 be the day some sense of normalcy returns?

in Arts & Culture

Saigoneer Podcast: Tourist Attractions & Who They're For; The Debate Over 'Essential' Goods

A new episode of the Saigoneer Podcast is now available!

in Saigon

As National Cases Surpass 100,000, Saigon Imposes Night Curfew, Restricts Movements

With daily new cases in the thousands, Saigon has imposed additional levels of movement restrictions on top of the most severe lockdown since the pandemic began.

in Music & Arts

On the Idea of Home: Reflections From Another Covid-19 Summer

I’m writing this to remember another Covid summer. Today, Saigon continues the second round of social distancing.

in Saigon

Saigon Shoppers Turn to Post Offices, Pharmacies, Beauty Stores for Fresh Produce

While mounting pressure on local supermarkets has started to ease, there are many new avenues in Saigon where fresh produce is available.

in Saigon

Saigon Has Imposed Over $50,000 in Fines so Far to Enforce Lockdown Rules

Huge amounts of fines have been levied since Directive 16 went into effect in Ho Chi Minh City.

in Culture

Sài Gòn Ơi, Let's Meet for Cà Phê Once the Pandemic Is Over

For various reasons, some city activities that I’ve long shunned are now replaying in my mind like footage of an old home video during these days of working from home.

in Saigon

Saigon Pilots Home Quarantine for F1 Cases, Albeit With Strict Criteria

To ease mounting pressure on centralized quarantine facilities, Vietnam has agreed to let those who have had direct contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases (F1) in Ho Chi Minh City to isolate at home on...

in Hanoi

Amid Worsening Outbreaks Elsewhere, Hanoi Pauses Its Reopening Roadmap

Bia hơi, gyms and karaoke need to wait until further notice.

in Tech

Saigon Releases Update of Map Portal With Local Covid-19 Cases, Vaccination Points

If you still find it difficult to fully grasp the scale and spread of Saigon’s current COVID-19 outbreak, look no further than this new map portal.

in Hanoi

Hanoi CDC to Propose Reopening of Non-Essential Businesses

With the COVID-19 outbreak in the city evidently under control, Hanoi’s health authorities are proposing to reopen a few non-essential services.

in Saigon

Saigon Officially Extends Social Distancing Order for Another 14 Days

In a move that some might have predicted, Saigon authorities have confirmed an extension of the current social distancing orders.

in Saigon

Saigon Reopens Schools, Cinemas, Tourist Sites, but Not Bars or Gyms

Are you looking forward to hitting cinemas again?

in Saigon

Schools to Reopen Monday as Saigon Hits 14 Days Without New Covid-19 Cases

On March 1, Saigon students can once again return to school.

in Saigon

No Tân Sơn Nhất Lockdown Despite 24 New Covid Cases Today

The new suspected cases are linked to Tân Sơn Nhất baggage handlers.

in Health

Vietnam Detects First Case of New Covid-19 Variant Discovered in UK

The individual in question was quarantined upon arrival, posing no threat to the community.

in Vietnam

Covid-19 Could Cost Da Nang Tourism $1.1bn This Year

Life in Da Nang is slowly returning to normal after the third wave of COVID-19 infections, though economic ramifications will remain.

in Vietnam

Da Nang Resumes Intercity Transport After Week Without New Covid-19 Cases

As of Monday, September 7, all train, vehicle and air travel to and within Da Nang will return to normal.

in Vietnam

Vietnam's Covid-19 Count Exceeds 1,000 After 7 Months

Fourteen new COVID-19 cases on Thursday afternoon brought the country's total to 1,007.

in Vietnam

Hanoi to Enforce Social Distance at Cafes, Restaurants From August 19

Beginning Wednesday, August 19 at 12am, all patrons at cafes and restaurants in Hanoi must be one meter apart from one another and staff must wear masks. 

in Music & Arts

[Video] In 'Ba Đình Đời,' a Study of Hanoi's Nocturnal Textures and Shapes

As Vietnam battles a fresh coronavirus outbreak, art from the country's initial battle and social distancing period is still being released.

in Saigon

Saigon Shuts Down Bars, Nightclubs, Crowded Public Events From Today

After two COVID-19 cases were confirmed in the city, Saigon is starting to close down businesses to curtail the spread of the virus.

in Vietnam

Da Nang Restarts Social Distancing After Cases of Covid-19 Community Transmission Emerge

Over the weekend, Vietnam recorded five new COVID-19 infections, four of which are community transmissions, putting an end to the country’s 99-day streak without local infections.

in Asia

11 Nests of Rare Sea Turtles Found in Thailand Amid Lockdown

When the cat's away, the mice will play; or in this case, during pandemic lockdown, animals will reclaim the spaces once bustling with human activity.

in Vietnam

Vietnam Enters 15 Days of Nationwide Social Distancing; Citizens Urged to Stay Home

Starting from today, April 1, Vietnam officially entered two weeks of heightened social distancing.