An array of restaurants, hotels, and coffee shops throughout the capital’s historic Old Quarter are struggling to recover from the economic impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, with local firms once again being forced to close due to the reemergence of the virus in the nation.

Usually a bustling hub in the heart of the Old Quarter, Ta Hien street is left almost entirely empty.

With beer restaurants, food stalls, and hotels shutting down on February 22, many other business owners who aren’t requested to close shut down anyway due to suffering from heavy loss caused by a lack of customers.

A notice signaling that the building is available for rent.

With some shop owners spending time to repair their premises ahead of welcoming buyers at the start of the new lunar year, they are now forced to close their doors due to an increase in the number of positive COVID-19 cases nationwide.

Hotels located Hang Giay street are left deserted. A hotel owner says that the majority of his customers are foreign visitors, with the sharp decrease of visitors coming from abroad resulting in heavy losses, meaning he now intends to close his hotel.

A hotel situated on Hang Buom street is decorated with a notice indicating that it is for sale.

Similarly, a hotel owner seeks a buyer for the building for approximately VND90 billion.

Some hotels have been on sale for a long time, with many unable to find a new owner due to fears surrounding COVID-19.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic forces a famous restaurant on Nha Tho street to close.

Coffee shops close following a request by the administration of Hanoi regarding COVID-19 prevention and control measures.

Major coffee chains suffer huge losses.

A series of Bep Xuka restaurants across the capital are forced to shut down.

Cosmetics shops such as Mumuso shut before the Lunar New Year.

The scene in front of a hotpot restaurant on Nha Chung street

The normally-bustling atmosphere at the intersection of Nha Tho-Nha Chung streets is gone.