Tourists visit the Temple of Literature which reopened yesterday after closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. — VNA/VNS Photo Thành Đạt

HÀ NỘI – Historic sites and tourist attractions in Hà Nội reopened to tourists on Thursday nearly two months after being closed to prevent the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus.

Sites such as the Temple of Literature, Ngọc Sơn Temple and Hỏa Lò Prison are among the attractions that welcomed tourists back while deploying safety precautions.

Lê Xuân Kiều, director of the Temple of Literature’s Cultural and Scientific and Cultural Activity Centre, said preventive measures remained the top priority.

The centre had temperature checks and hand sanitiser in place for visitors, he said.

Visitors are required to comply with regulations related to epidemic prevention and control, such as checking their temperatures, wearing face masks and washing hands.

Hỏa Lò Prison has reopened with an exhibition titled Khát vọng tự do (Aspiration for Freedom), with areas including The Chains, Flying in the Midst of the Night, and the Peace Song

Nguyễn Doãn Văn, director of the management board of Hỏa Lò Prison, said the site had been regularly sterilised during the closure.

“The management board will take care of the personal safety and hygiene for visitors including providing hand sanitiser for them,” he said.

The Hồ Chí Minh Mausoleum in Ba Đình Square, one of the city's must-visit places, reopened on Tuesday after closing its doors to tourists on March 23.

Opened in 1973, the granite memorial was inspired by Lenin's mausoleum in Moscow and was built on the spot where President Hồ Chí Minh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945.

The capital city’s popular ‘walking streets’ would also reopen on Friday after being closed for more than three months, announced the People's Committee of Hoàn Kiếm District in Hà Nội.

The streets around Hoàn Kiếm Lake, including Hàng Đào and Hàng Giấy, as well as Đồng Xuân Night Market, would reopen to residents and tourists from 7pm on Friday evening through to midnight on Sunday. 

According to the city’s Tourism Department, all visitors would have their temperatures checked and asked to wash their hands with steriliser and wear face masks before entering tourism sites. Each group of visitors would be restricted to 30 people.

Pandemic effect

Statistics from the department showed that the number of tourists to Hà Nội decreased during the Unification Day and May Day holidays. The total number of visitors reached 28,473, down nearly 92 per cent over last year’s figure

Revenue from tourism was estimated at VNĐ91 billion (US$3.9 million), a decrease of 85.2 per cent in comparison with the previous year. The average occupancy of 3-5 star hotels was 13.4 per cent, down 56.6 per cent.

After social distancing, the number of people visiting commercial and trade centres had declined by 90 per cent compared with the same period last year, said the department. — VNS