Saigon enters lockdown with armed soldiers on the streets

Saigon has entered lockdown with armed soldiers on the streets in an intensification of Covid prevention measures. Accruing to Radio Free Asia, Saigon — also known as Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) — entered a trick lockdown on Monday, July 23.

It has been stated that as many as 35,000 reserve forces (figures reported by Vietnamese Ministry of Defense) have been sent out to patrol the streets, with troops decked out with retro AK-47’s to restrict the movement of citizens.

Last Chopper out of Saigon?

City residents have reportedly not taken too well to the measures with some older locals comparing it to when the city fell to communist forces on April 30th, 1975. While this ended the Vietnamese War, it also resulted in reprisals against collaborationists.

In a further move the government also ordered the rounding up of all homeless people to be moved to “facilities”, which probably beats sleeping on the streets at least.

Saigon Enters lockdown – how strict is it?

Well there are 35,000 AK-47-wielding soldiers, so obviously this is not being taken lightly. The curfew itself is not all that dissimilar to what we have seen in Cambodia with 18.00 – 06.00 prohibition on movement, with the following rules also in place;

“Officials request all residents to remain at home except when seeking medical care, working in essential industries, or purchasing essential goods. Nonessential gatherings are limited to two people. Nonessential business operations and cultural, recreational, and sports activities in public venues remain suspended. Officials ban most public transport, including buses, taxis, and intracity and intercity bus services. Entry and exit controls remain in place in the city, with exemptions for the transport of essential goods and business reasons, among others.”

There are worse places to be than Cambodia right now…

For any barang that feels hard done by in Cambodia, remember the situation could always be a lot worse. Vietnam did not initiate any kind of “visa amnesty” as was done in Cambodia, with those stuck in the country being forced not only to pay to stay, but with many also reporting being pressured to leave.

David Hodgson a British expat who has been stuck in Vietnam since March 2020 told Khmer Nights “We previously had to pay $50 every 3 months, with visas easy to come by. This has since decreased to needing to renew every month, with the price ranging from $50-150 depending on how lucky you are. In recent months there have been relayed messages that visa renewals are ending and the overall picture seems to be they want foreigners out”.

So, whilst we have lockdowns and the odd alcohol ban, there are definitely worse places to be than Cambodia right now.

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