After nearly two months of social distancing, Hanoi reopened Thursday its first shops in low-risk districts and residents trickled out to shop with a spring in their steps.

There was a palpable sense of relief and happiness among the shopkeepers on being able to reopen their business and start earning some income.

Customers wait patiently in a line up outside a pho (rice noodles soup) shop on Nguyen Son Street in Long Bien District for takeaways.

Starting 12 p.m. Thursday, 19 districts in Hanoi have been allowed to reopen several businesses including food and beverage establishments, stationery stores selling office supplies and books, garages that repair vehicles and those that sell and repair electrical appliances.

Food and beverage establishments can only sell takeaways and must close before 9 p.m. every day.

A woman buys pork rib porridge on Ngoc Lam Street. The shop owner said she sold more than 100 bowls within a short time after reopening.

Employees of a rice vermicelli shop on To Hieu Street in Cau Giay District wash dishes to prepare for reopening. The owner said only two of 16 original employees have returned after nearly two months of social distancing.

Employees of a restaurant on Nguyen Truong To Street in Ba Dinh District clean tables and chairs to prepare for reopening on Friday.

On Cua Bac Street in Ba Dinh District, Huong's vehicle repair shop received their first guests in months.

"They are all regulars. To be allowed to reopen is really good because now there's some income, my family will be better off now," Huong said.

Another motorbike repair shop on Doi Can Street is also reopened.

An electrical appliance shop at the Doi Can-Lieu Giai intersection gets its first customers after reopening.

"Last night, on hearing Hanoi has allowed the reopening of several businesses, including businesses like ours, the whole family was overjoyed. We cleaned things up and got ready to reopen in the morning," said Phuong, the store owner.

Hanoi has recorded 4,088 local Covid-19 cases since the fourth coronavirus wave hit Vietnam in late April. The capital, home to nine million people, has undergone a series of social distancing orders, with the latest one expected to last until September 21.