Speaking at a meeting on Tuesday, city vice-chairman Ngo Minh Chau said the police should stay alert as the city reopens after Covid-19, especially to gang-related crimes and usury.

The two pillars of socio-economic recovery are controlling the pandemic and guaranteeing security and order, and "If either of those pillars are not well controlled, HCMC will face many challenges."

HCMC has been the epicenter of the country's latest Covid wave and started to ease all restrictions and gradually reopen on Oct. 1 after four months of various levels of lockdowns.