Business News

Restrictions on public transport have been loosened since April 23 as Viet Nam moves to gradually ease social distancing rules, according to an announcement of the Ministry of Transport.

Vietnam stops social distancing restrictions in several high-risk localities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from today (April 23), allowing certain, but not all, non-essential businesses to reopen while state agencies were cautioned to remain vigilant.

Having kept the coronavirus pandemic under control, HCMC has received the prime minister’s approval to stop the social distancing campaign at midnight on April 23, allowing businesses in some sectors to resume operations.

With agreement from the Government, Hà Nội’s administration announced that strict social distancing measures in place to curb the coronavirus would expire at midnight on Wednesday.

There will be 20 daily flights on the busiest route linking Hanoi and HCMC. Of these, national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and low-cost airline Vietjet Air are scheduled to operate six daily flights each. The frequency of flights by Jetstar Pacific and Bamboo Airways will be four flights each per day.

The city will also deploy public security forces in 24 districts to ensure that people practice social distancing until the government declares the end of the epidemic and that criminal activities are kept in check. Surveillance cameras and hotlines will be used to spot and fine people not wearing a mask.

The six projects will be located in three new urban areas in Vị Thủy and Châu Thành districts and Vị Thanh City. Three roads will be built, including one passing through Vĩnh Viễn A Commune in Long Mỹ District, one in Phú Tân Commune in Châu Thành District, and another in Phú Hữu Commune in Châu Thành District.

The SBV said credit demand from firms involved in industry, construction and agriculture had increased by 1 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively, while the figures had declined for trade, services, tourism and consumption. Credit demand from small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) also decreased by more than 1 per cent.