People shop at Bến Thành Market in HCM City’s District 1 after it reopened on October 1. Photo tuoitre.vn

HCM CITY – Bến Thành Market in District 1 and many other traditional markets have reopened, with everyone working in the shops inside being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with two shots.

Ngô Văn Hà, a shop owner at Bến Thành Market, said to ensure safety the market management requires everyone to be vaccinated, stay at least two metres apart and put up partitions to separate shop employees and buyers.

It also randomly tests customers for free for COVID and shopkeepers every three days.

According to Đỗ Đức Tiến, deputy manager of Bình Thới Market in District 11, the market reopened a few days ago, but only has 50 per cent of its 400 shops open in the first phase from October 1 to 22.

The second phase until November 22 would see more shops gradually open depending on the situation, and normal operation would resume after November 22 if it is safe, he said.

An Đông Market in District 5 would reopen on October 10, its management said.

People entering the market must have had at least one dose of a COVID vaccine at least 14 days before or should have contracted and recovered from the disease within the previous six months.

According to the District 5 People's Committee, the plan is to gradually open other traditional markets in October and November.

The city Department of Industry and Trade said 16 traditional markets have reopened and nine field markets have been set up, seven in Củ Chi District and two in District 5.

Bùi Tá Hoàng Vũ, its director, said the department had called on districts to reopen markets while also ensuring safety.

The city had issued safety guidelines for it, and so many markets were expected to open very soon. – VNS