Several bars and beer halls on Saigon’s iconic backpacker street have responded to Covid-19’s extended trade restrictions by switching to the sale of vegetables, fruit and other agricultural products.
HCMC, the epicenter of the fourth coronavirus wave, has shut down all bars, karaoke parlors and non-essential services since May.
A high vaccination rate and a shift from a zero-virus strategy to living with the pandemic have enabled the city to lift most restrictions and resume certain activities since October 1, but non-essential services like bars, beer clubs and karaoke parlors remain closed.
">Along the 700-meter-long Bui Vien Street, the city’s busiest nighttime hot spot for foreign tourists and locals, a dozen bars serving beer and other spirits have passed for sale. vegetables and fruits over the past month.
HCMV, the epicenter of the fourth wave of coronavirus, has closed all bars, karaoke lounges and non-essential services since May.
A high vaccination rate and the move from a zero virus strategy to living with the pandemic have allowed the city to lift most restrictions and resume some activities since October 1, but non-essential services like bars, beer clubs and karaoke lounges remain closed.
Bui Vien, dubbed "Saigon beer street," is closed to vehicles on weekends. Highly popular with both foreign tourists and locals the street used to bustle with bars and pubs, loud music, flashing lights, all manner of street food and thousands upon thousands of people.
Since the pandemic broke out in Vietnam last year, city authorities have ordered bars, karaoke parlors and beer clubs to close several times as a Covid-19 containment measure, leaving business owners in dire financial straits.
">Bui Vien, nicknamed “Saigon’s beer street”, is closed to vehicles on weekends. Very popular with foreign tourists and locals alike, the street was full of bars and pubs, loud music, flashing lights, all kinds of street food and thousands and thousands of people.
Since the pandemic erupted in Vietnam last year, city authorities have repeatedly ordered bars, karaoke parlors and beer clubs to be closed as a Covid-19 containment measure, leaving the business owners in dire financial straits.
At the corner of Bui Vien and Do Quang Dau Street, a woman buys some pomelos.
"This place used to be a crowded beer shop day and night. After a few months of closure due to the pandemic, the shop owner could not bear it anymore and has switched to selling vegetables and fruits for nearly two weeks to cover daily expenses," an employee said.
">At the corner of Bui Vien and Do Quang Dau streets, a woman is buying grapefruits.
“This place was once a beer store packed day and night. After a few months of closure due to the pandemic, the store owner was tired of it and switched to selling vegetables and fruit for almost two weeks. to cover daily expenses, “said one employee.
Inside the 40-square-meter shop, tables and chairs for customers to sit and drink beer have been removed. The space is occupied by fruit crates and vegetable baskets.">Inside the 40-square-meter store, tables and chairs for customers to sit and drink beer have been removed. The space is occupied by crates of fruit and baskets of vegetables.
The AHA Grill & Bar, a popular address for foreign tourists, has also turned into a vegetable and grocery store. The bar has two floors and its ground floor, an area of ​​about 70 square meters, is used to sell vegetables, frozen fish, meat and other essential items.
The shop operates from morning to evening with just four employees.
">The AHA Grill & Bar, a popular address for foreign tourists, has also turned into a grocery store and vegetables. The bar has two floors and its ground floor, with an area of ​​around 70 square meters, is used to sell vegetables, frozen fish, meat and other essentials.
The store operates from morning to night with only four employees.
"Vegetables and fruits are mainly bought from Da Lat and sold at the same price as traditional markets. The rentals are very high and incomes from selling vegetables is still not enough to make a profit, but this is the only way to survive,†said manager Le Thi Thanh Hoa. ">“Vegetables and fruits are mainly bought in Da Lat and sold at the same price as traditional markets. The rents are very high and the income from the sale of vegetables is still not enough to make a profit, but it is the only way to survive, â€said manager Le Thi Thanh Hoa.
At the corner of De Tham - Bui Vien Street, a bar has been renovated into a food store selling vegetables, meat and seafood. ">At the corner of rue De Tham – Bui Vien, a bar has been renovated into a food store selling vegetables, meats and seafood.
From a chef specializing in pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), Nguyen Si Hoi has switched to selling pork for nearly a month.
"I have been selling pho on Bui Vien for more than 20 years. I have never imagined a scene like this, with shops closed for such a long time. I still have to pay my rent, so I have to find ways to overcome the difficult period," he said.
Restaurants and dining establishments have been allowed to reopen but only provide takeaways.
">From a chef specializing in pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), Nguyen Si Hoi switched to pork sales for almost a month.
” I sold pho on Bui Vien for over 20 years. I never imagined a scene like this, with stores closed for so long. I still have to pay my rent, so I have to find ways to get through the hard times, â€he said.
Restaurants and catering establishments have been authorized to reopen but only offer take-out.
A man selects a papaya at a shop on Bui Vien Street.
Most owners of bars and beer clubs said they will try to sell vegetable and fruits to earn some income while they wait for the government to allow non-essential services to resume operations.
">A man chooses a papaya in a store on Bui Vien Street.
Most owners of beer bars and clubs have said they will try to sell vegetables and fruit to earn income while waiting for the government to allow non-essential services to resume.
