HCMC APPROVED TO STOP SOCIAL DISTANCING

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.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has permitted the city and some other localities to end the 22-day shelter-in-place period set on April 1, said Le Thanh Liem, vice chairman of the municipal government, at a meeting of the city’s steering committee on Covid-19 infection prevention and control on April 22.

Shops, street businesses, and non-essential service providers in the city can restart their activities but have to ensure full compliance with regulations on preventing the coronavirus transmission.

Besides, people still have to wear face masks when in the public, Liem added.

Earlier, the authority of HCMC had proposed lifting the social distance order, starting at midnight on April 23, as the city has not reported any new Covid-19 infections for 19 consecutive days during the 22-day stay-at-home campaign.

Currently, only two Covid-19 cases are under treatment in HCMC, Nguyen Thanh Phong, chairman of the municipal government, told a web meeting with authorities of 63 provinces and cities on April 22.

Meanwhile, the southern city is facing many major challenges to its economic growth, Phong stated.

The city’s growth rate in the first quarter of the year has not fully reflected its overall economic picture. The heaviest impact of this public health crisis on the southern hub will be felt more clearly in the second quarter, he said.

From April onward, export orders are delayed, so demand for products from major markets is seeing a downward trend. Local people and businesses will face mounting difficulties given this situation, the chairman explained.

Accordingly, the city made the proposal to end social distancing. Also, the city has worked out plans to restart economic activities while continuing to apply stringent measures to prevent and control Covid-19 infections.

Source: The Saigon Times

Related News

BANKING / FINANCE / INSURANCE / TAX

BANKS LAUNCH CROSS-BORDER QR PAYMENTS TO TAP GROWING DIGITAL ECONOMY

Banks are rolling out cross-border QR payment services enabling consumers to make international transactions directly through domestic banking apps to tap into the country’s fast-growing digital economy. The expansion of QR-based payments is gradually reshaping spending habits, reducing reliance on cash and international cards while offering faster and more transparent transactions at points of sale.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

VIETNAM’S SMALL BUSINESSES TOP ASIA‑PACIFIC GROWTH RANKINGS

Vietnamese small businesses posted the strongest performance among 11 Asia Pacific markets in 2025, with 84% reporting growth, up from 82% a year earlier, according to CPA Australia’s small business survey. This momentum is forecast to continue in 2026 with 89% of small businesses expecting to grow on the back of a strong focus on technology, e-commerce, and improved business management.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

VIETNAM’S IMPORTS FROM CHINA TOP US$50 BILLION IN Q1

Vietnam’s imports from China in the first quarter of 2026 surged a staggering 31.6% year-on-year to more than US$50 billion, accounting for around 40% of the country’s total imports, customs data showed. The increase was driven largely by technology goods and industrial equipment. Imports of computers, electronics and components jumped 62.2% to US$16.77 billion, while machinery, equipment, tools and spare parts rose 25% to US$9.72 billion.

Apr 23, 2026

INFRASTRUCTURE / CONSTRUCTION / LOGISTIC / PORT

VIETNAM TARGETS OVER 30 AIRPORTS, 25 RAILWAY LINES BY 2050

Vietnam plans to expand its nationwide civil aviation network to more than 30 airports by 2050, with total capacity reaching 533 million passengers per year. Minister of Construction Tran Hong Minh told the National Assembly on April 20, as the country accelerates decentralization and diversifies funding sources for transport infrastructure.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

FIRST-QUARTER GROWTH HITS RECORD HIGH DESPITE GLOBAL VOLATILITY

According to Dragon Capital, Vietnam’s growth momentum strengthened in March following Lunar New Year normalisation, reinforcing confidence that the expansion remained firmly intact through the first quarter of 2026. GDP grew 7.8 per cent on-year in the first quarter, with industry and construction rising 8.9 per cent and services 8.2 per cent, highlighting that growth is not solely reliant on exports and manufacturing, but is increasingly supported by services and domestic demand.

Apr 23, 2026

VIETNAM ECONOMY INVESTMENT

FRUIT AND VEGETABLE EXPORTS SURGE ON GLOBAL DEMAND

Việt Nam’s fruit and vegetable exports have made a strong start to the year, with rising shipments and tighter compliance with international standards helping producers tap robust global demand, according to the Vietnam Fruit and Vegetables Association. The association reported export earnings of nearly US$532 million in April, bringing total export value to $2.06 billion in the first four months of the year, up 22 per cent year-on-year.

Apr 23, 2026