Social distancing measures empty famed southern Vietnam beach town

 Once crowded with throngs of vacationers, Vung Tau beach town is now left deserted amid more stringent social distancing measures.

The Martyrs' Memorial intersection between the streets of February 3, Thi Sach, Vo Thi Sau and Le Hong Phong in Vung Tau Town in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, is virtually empty on Friday morning. This is one of two downtown gateways.

Since Wednesday, the 140-square-kilometer town with more than 400,000 residents entered a 14-day social distancing campaign under government Directive 16, which bans gatherings of more than two people in public and asks people to only leave home for emergencies, buying food and medicine, and working in factories, production facilities and businesses that involve "essential" goods and services.

A woman walks with her child in an alley filled with hotels and motels on Thuy Van Street. More than two months ago, this street was bustling with visitors during the Reunification holiday (April 30), only a few days after Vietnam reported its fourth coronavirus wave.

The 10-kilometer-long Bai Sau, a famed beach among holiday-goers, is virtually deserted contrary to the crowded scene of over 70,000 people flocking here on April 30 despite the Covid threat.

Starting June 1, provincial authorities ordered a swimming ban and suspended all boat services to Con Dao Islands, a popular tourist destination after its neighbor Ho Chi Minh City reported Covid clusters.

A street running along the beach has no vehicles or passers-by.

Rows of food stalls and shops on Vung Tau book street opposite Bai Truoc (Front Beach) had been closed to ensure pandemic prevention measures. The street is typically filled with visitors during weekends or national holidays.

A member of a task force checks the papers of a woman on Nguyen An Ninh Street to crack down on social distancing violations.

"Many residents have been stopped for leaving their homes unnecessarily during the social distancing order. Some initially resisted functional forces but then also accepted to pay fines," an anonymous official said.

Those violating social distancing measures will be fined VND1-3 million ($43.38-130.15).

People queue to receive free vegetables and fruit on Ba Cu Street.

A man living in a locked down area receives gas at a checkpoint set up to prevent people inside from going out.

Vung Tau has recorded 67 infections during the ongoing wave.