As COVID-19 outbreaks are reported at K Hospital’s Tan Trieu facility and the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, the administration of Hanoi has requested the temporary suspension of non-essential services. Most notably, eateries close to hospitals must now only run take-away services.

Scenes of deserted restaurants can be spotted on streets located near Thanh Nhan, Viet Duc, Bach Mai, and 108 hospitals.

A food outlet on Phu Doan street serves fewer customers compared to normal days. The owner shares her hopes that the pandemic will soon end so that people will be able to return to their daily lives as normal.

Several eateries are forced to shut down on Tran Thanh Tong street opposite the Hanoi-based 108 Military Hospital. A number of eateries remain open but only provide take-away services.

Plenty of shippers can be seen waiting to deliver food to patients and relatives at 108 Military Hospital.

A shipper sits on his bike as he waits for customers in front of Thanh Nhan Hospital.

A man buys food for his relative who is receiving treatment at Thanh Nhan Hospital.

Many hospitals are located on Phuong Mai street, including Bach Mai Hospital and the Franco-Vietnamese (FV) Hospital. People tend to go out of the hospitals in order to buy food in nearby eateries.

People line up as they wait to buy lunch.

An eatery places a notice about their take-away service. These days they get fewer customers due to fears of the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the community.

Security forces remain on duty all day, urging people not to gather in large crowds.