Vietnam eating places reopening cautiously

It is estimated that up to a third of restaurants may have closed permanently since the start of Covid-19

Published Mon, Oct 25, 2021 · 05:50 AM

Vietnam

Hanoi

AFTER almost three months of lockdown, the authorities in Hanoi have finally allowed dine-in services at local eateries, restaurants and cafes to finally resume. But the reaction among customers and proprietors in the Vietnamese capital has been mixed so far.

It's a risky situation to reopen now given the threat of the coronavirus, said Minh Chu, the founder and president of the Restaurant Association of Vietnam (RAV).

"Some owners have said that they are afraid that when they fully reopen, if Covid-19 comes back they will not be able to afford to close and then reopen again," he said.

With relatively low rates of vaccination - just below 60 per cent …