The pedestrian plaza down the middle of Nguyen Hue Street in downtown HCMC, a popular hangout, saw throngs of people last weekend after a months-long lockdown was lifted.

Blockades and barriers in front of the people’s committee office have been removed after tourist destinations and pedestrians-only streets were allowed to reopen operation on October 1.

They had been shut since early June as the city grappled with its most challenging wave of Covid-19 yet and mandated social distancing.

Since coffee shops and eateries are not yet allowed to serve customers on their premises, young people buy snacks and drinks at convenience stores and sit in the pedestrian plaza.

The 670-meter Nguyen Hue has been receiving thousands of visitors every day since the pedestrian plaza was created in 2015, becoming particularly crowded during weekends and holidays.

Families are bringing their children to enjoy the outdoor atmosphere after months of being cooped up at home due to the pandemic prevention measures.

A foreign family at the pedestrian plaza.

At the water fountain, families sit far apart since social distancing is still required.

Linh, 32, of District 10 said before the pandemic she and her friends used to hang out every weekend at the pedestrian plaza.

"I have got two shots of a Covid vaccine. Right after the city lifted the lockdown, I visited the pedestrian plaza to relax for about half an hour."

Parking lots around the pedestrian area have not been allowed to reopen and many people sit by the road to keep an eye on their vehicles. Police officers patrol the area to disperse gatherings and remind people to comply with pandemic prevention measures since the number of daily infections in the city is still high.

HCMC has had over 400,000 infections in the ongoing wave. Its high vaccine rate and a strategic shift from a zero-virus strategy to living with the pandemic have enabled the city to lift most restrictions and resume certain activities.

Nguyen Hue Boulevard crowded with vehicles last Sunday night.