Residents in Nha Trang and Vung Tau, popular tourism hotspots, flocked to the beach Saturday after four months of closure as a Covid containment measure.

The hustle and bustle returns to the 12-kilometer-long beach along Tran Phu Street in downtown Nha Trang.

Along the beach, the loudspeaker system continuously reminds people not to gather in large crowds to limit the risk of infection.

Khanh Hoa authorities allowed swimmers in ‘green zones’, deemed to pose a low risk of Covid spread, onto beaches from Saturday. It closed beaches in June after grappling with a surge in community transmissions.

Beach-goers pose for a photo while swimming.

After more than an hour in the water, Nguyen Hong Quang carries his five-year-old son to shore.

"I'm happy to see my son playing in the water as we felt bored to stay home for so long," the father said.

A group of men play volleyball in the sand.

Khanh Hoa has recorded over 8,300 infections during the fourth coronavirus wave, with provincial authorities having eased more Covid restrictions after bringing the outbreak under control.

Though the swimming ban has been lifted, Bai Sau, also known as Thuy Van Beach, in Vung Tau, is not crowded on Saturday morning.

Five months ago, the beach was bustling with thousands of visitors during the Reunification holiday (April 30), only a few days after Vietnam entered its fourth coronavirus wave.

A family makes their way to Bai Sau Beach.

People swim near Ha Long Street.

Nguyen Tran Xuan Loc said his family came to the beach at 5 a.m. to swim, run and play football.

"The air was quite fresh and cool. We have been exercising for more than two hours,” Loc said.

Though Ba Ria-Vung Tau authorities reopened beaches and allowed outdoor sports activities, gatherings of over 20 people are still banned.

A group of children play on Bai Truoc (Front Beach), also known as Tam Duong Beach.

The province has recorded over 4,300 infections in the fourth wave.