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‘Trying to go to Hoi An during the holiday, I am more insecure than happy’

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For me, going out during the holiday that coincides with the outbreak of the new epidemic is a memorable experience when the feeling of insecurity is constant, from time to time I go online to read the news to update the situation.
“Are you still going out to play? This translation is so scary!”.

Receiving a text from my boss, I glanced at my watch. 6 more hours until my flight from Hanoi to Da Nang departs at 20 pm on April 30. Previously, on April 29, Ha Nam province recorded a case with a positive result for SARS-CoV-2, BN2899. This person has just completed concentrated isolation in Da Nang City and tested negative for nCoV 3 times. After that, many F1, F2 related to this case were found to have Covid-19. “Or stay where you are?”, I hesitated a bit. Noi Bai airport (Hanoi) at noon on April 29 was more crowded than usual because many people returned to their hometown or went on holiday on April 30. Photo: Ngoc Tan. However, this is my first leave since the beginning of this year. I was so excited that I planned it long in advance. There are still recommendations from the Ministry of Health on maintaining the 5K status (masks, disinfection, distance, not gathering, medical declaration), but then, moving between localities is not prohibited. Moreover, Da Nang has not had a ban on tourist areas, resorts and hotels from accepting guests. In the end, I packed my things in my suitcase and left with the thought: “If the translation is too complicated, I can book a ticket to return earlier.” Avoid going to bars and clubs for fear of danger On the morning of May 1, I decided to go to the beach. Contrary to my imagination of a crowded Danang during the holiday season, traffic is sparse on the streets. Seeing me wondering, the driver said: “The epidemic is so scary that people have been rushing back since April 30. There is a company that booked a 5-star hotel for 500 employees to go on vacation but also canceled the tour.” At the beach, although the weather is quite nice, I can count the number of people out here playing on my fingers. It was a group of young Chinese friends carrying buoys playing in the sea. A family with young children all fell into the water and struggled back to the shore to make sand. In the afternoon of the same day, the scene was still strangely deserted on the way to Linh Ung pagoda on Son Tra peninsula. Not many tourists visit Linh Ung Pagoda (Son Tra, Da Nang) on ​​the afternoon of May 1. Some foreigners do not wear masks. Photo: NVCC. Arriving at an emerging place recently, which young people call “Obama rock”, I saw about 100 people, mostly local families, sitting crammed in huts to eat, drink and sing. . Seeing the crowded scene, no one wearing a mask or paying attention to the distance, my companion and I quickly left. Although the plan that day was to go “chill” at the bar on the roof of a high-rise building in the evening, we decided to cancel because a closed environment such as a bar or pub can easily spread the virus. Throughout the day, my companion and I did not forget to wear masks and bring hand sanitizer. Sometimes when traveling on the road, I take advantage of reading the news to update the situation about new infections. Going out in anxiety According to the schedule, on May 2, I spend time mainly in Hoi An city (Quang Nam). Unlike Da Nang, the entertainment spots here are still quite crowded. Except when diving to see coral or swimming in Cu Lao Cham, my companion and I try not to leave the mask. At lunchtime, we also choose a corner table to limit contact with people. However, with the large number of tourists present on the island, it is very difficult to ensure social distancing. Visitors are sparse in Hoi An ancient town at about 4pm on May 2, but it becomes more and more crowded in the evening. Photo: NVCC. On the way to Hoi An ancient town, the taxi driver reminded us that the suspected case of SARS-CoV-2 infection was a local. I immediately opened the phone to check the information to be more secure. As evening comes, the number of tourists flocking to the old town increases, mainly young people traveling with lovers and families. They gathered around famous sightseeing areas such as Cau Pagoda, Ba Mu pagoda gate, Phuc Kien assembly hall… to take pictures. According to observations, most do not wear masks. Not wanting to linger long in a crowded place, we decided to leave after a tour around. The last day in Da Nang, I mainly stayed in the hotel, not wandering around the streets because I was bewildered by the complicated development of the disease. At the airport on the evening of May 3, I looked forward to returning home when the Da Nang Department of Health announced that the city had detected a Covid-19 patient in the community. This man works at Phu An hotel (Hai Chau district, Da Nang), residing in Hoi An city. I was jittery when I knew before that, he traveled to many places between the two cities. Before boarding the plane, I made the required medical declaration. My companion and I also thoroughly wore masks, disinfected hands and kept a distance before the flight departed. When I got home, the next morning, I immediately made a medical declaration when I received an email from the company. I would also like to self-isolate at home to monitor the epidemic situation. Through reading the news, I know from 0:00 on May 4, Da Nang city suspends non-essential activities and bans swimming. In Hoi An city, the streets also became quiet, shops closed after detecting a case of Covid-19. On the afternoon of May 4, the old town streets in Hoi An city were quiet after this locality showed a positive case for SARS-CoV-2. Photo: Thanh Duc, Quoc Tuan. For me, going out during the holiday that coincides with the outbreak of the new epidemic is a memorable experience when the feeling of insecurity is constant, from time to time I go online to read the news to update the situation. However, at least, I think I have implemented the 5K rule well and complied with all regulations on epidemic prevention in the places I went through.