As Vietnamese are asked to embrace social distancing to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a coffee shop in Ho Chi Minh City has come up with an ingenious idea to keep their business running while ensuring safety for employees and customers.

On Tuesday last week, the Ho Chi Minh City administration issued a directive asking all catering businesses with a capacity of 30 customers or more to temporarily cease operation through the end of March.

Four days later, the city’s Food Safety Management Board continued to request local catering businesses to temporarily offer takeaways only.

In addition, the Vietnamese prime minister on Tuesday ordered nationwide social distancing to be in place from April 1 to 15, effectively banning all public gatherings of more than two people in public spaces.

Residents are asked to keep a minimum distance of two meters from others in social interaction.

To maintain its operation while complying with the social distancing order, a coffee shop on Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City has used a fishing rod to hand drinks to customers.

Consumers are requested to stand at designated spots, marked by stickers on the ground, to make sure takeaway buyers are generously spaced from others while making or waiting to collect their orders.

A fishing rod is utilized to hand finished orders to customers, making sure a safe distance is maintained between them and the staff at all times.

Hoang Tien, 28, owner of the coffee shop, said the fishing rod does not only make customers feel safer but also brings them some much needed comic relief during these stressful times.

Meanwhile, a vegan storefront on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street in District 11 has also put up a sign asking for customers’ “understanding” and cooperation by “standing away from the food counter” while placing orders.

The place promises to give face masks for free to customers who do not have one.

“Please cooperate with us for a great meal. We are sorry for all the inconvenience,” reads the announcement written with chalk on the blackboard sign.

A com tam (broken rice with grilled pork) restaurant on Ung Van Khiem Street in Binh Thanh District is also spotted with chairs designated for customers to sit while waiting to pick up their orders.

Each chair is set up around 1.5-2 meters away from others.

The place has also prepared free hand sanitizer for its customers.

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