The capitals of Dong Nai and Long An provinces, both HCMC neighbors, have turned into ghost towns as people are kept indoor after 6 p.m.

Bien Hung roundabout in Bien Hoa Town of Dong Nai at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

This is one of the busiest areas in Bien Hoa as it connects a series of main streets including Hung Dao Vuong, April 30, and Ha Huy Giap.

Starting Wednesday, Dong Nai bans people from going out from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. until Aug. 1 in a bid to curb Covid-19.

The move follows Dong Nai recording more than 3,100 Covid-19 cases so far in the new wave that hit Vietnam over three months ago.

Pham Van Thuan Street, another major route in Bien Hoa Town.

Starting Wednesday, Dong Nai has also suspended all takeaway services, with only facilities selling essential items, including food and medicine allowed to open.

At 6:30 p.m., there’re only ambulances and police at Lac Cuong Intersection of Bien Hoa.

Highlighted with a message reading: "Stay at home to keep the pandemic away," Ha Huy Giap Street is completely empty.

Since Dong Nai imposed social distancing measures under Directive 16 on July 9, Bien Hoa Town has fined 2,600 violators a total sum of more than VND4 billion ($174,000). The directive does not permit anyone to leave home apart from essential purposes like buying food and seeking medical treatment or working at companies still allowed to operate.

Tan Phong Tunnel on Dong Khoi Street at 6:45 p.m.

This is the route connecting Bien Hoa’s industrial parks like Amata, Bien Hoa 2, Long Binh with Vinh Cuu District.

"A few days ago, I still saw shippers and trucks carrying goods pass by, but now I don't see anyone," said an employee of a private clinic on Dong Khoi Street.

Buu Long Roundabout and Hoa An Overpass.

This is a lifeline route connecting Dong Nai with Binh Duong Province and Ho Chi Minh City via National Highway 1K.

In Long An Province, the intersection of Hung Vuong Street in Tan An Town stands empty at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, the second day the province had restricted people from going out at night. In addition to Long An, the Mekong Delta provinces of Bac Lieu, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, An Giang, Hau Giang, and Kien Giang have imposed night-time restrictions starting July 27, a day before the same move was made in the region’s Ben Tre and Ca Mau provinces.

In Long An Province, the intersection of Hung Vuong Street in Tan An Town stands empty at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, the second day the province had restricted people from going out at night.

In addition to Long An, the Mekong Delta provinces of Bac Lieu, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, An Giang, Hau Giang, and Kien Giang have imposed night-time restrictions starting July 27, a day before the same move was made in the region’s Ben Tre and Ca Mau provinces.

Tan An Bridge No. 1 and No. 2 crossing Vam Co Tay River to link outlying districts with Tan An Town.

A Covid-19 checkpoint on Truong Dinh Street in Tan An.

A truck driver is required to stop for inspection on Hung Vuong Street.

People allowed by the province to go out on the streets after 6 p.m. are forces offering emergency aid, those working in epidemic prevention and control or natural disaster prevention, reporters, sanitation workers, forces dealing with incidents of electricity, water, information systems and technical infrastructure, and vehicles transporting essential goods.

A woman turns around when encountering a checkpoint on National Highway No. 62 in Tan An Town.

Vo Van Toan, 56, who works as a guard at a beverage distribution agency in Tan An’s Ward 1, sits on a canvas bed covered by a mosquito net. This is where he spends the night.

With the ongoing Covid-19 outbreak growing ever more complex, he has been made to stay back at work to avoid any possible risk of contracting the virus on his daily commute.

"Being kept from moving around is indeed frustrating, but for the sake of everyone's safety, I have to comply and hope this outbreak could end soon," he said.

In the ongoing wave, Long An has recorded 4,900 community cases and 42 fatalities.

Nationwide, the tally has climbed to almost 120,000, with HCMC suffering the most, with nearly 79,000 infections.