VietNamNet’s reporters visited the coach station and the airport on February 5 (the 24th day of the 12th lunar month), 6 days before the lunar New Year (Tet). This time is usually the busiest period of the year for coach stations and airports as people flock to their home for the Tet holiday. But it is different this year.

At Mien Dong, HCM City’s major coach station, in front of the ticket counters, there was no scene of passengers jostling to buy tickets like it was in the previous years. The ticket counter staff was quite leisurely. The waiting seats at the coach station were empty. The roads around the coach station were also quite clear.

A manager of the Mien Dong coach station said that during the daytime, coaches mainly depart to central and northern provinces and those travelling to the Central Highlands depart at night. This year, the coach station is quite empty because customers are afraid of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some photos taken at Mien Dong coach station on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month:

It was similar at Tan Son Nhat airport. The number of passengers flocking to the domestic terminal to return home for Tet was not large.

At this time of previous years, passengers had to queue up and wait a long time to complete the check-in procedures, security screening. This year the time was greatly shortened.

It has been never happened before that several days before Tet, many people came to the airport to change or return air tickets.

Some photos taken at Tan Son Nhat airport on the 24th day of the 12th lunar month:

People waiting in line to exchange or return tickets at Tan Son Nhat airport

At Vietjet Air information counter at the domestic terminal, hundreds of people lined up to wait for ticket exchange/return procedures. Most customers could only exchange tickets, not return

Besides wearing facial masks, many passengers also used protective clothing

Some people equipped themselves with specialized hats.   Airport security forces check passengers' body temperature   Passengers wash their hands to prevent Covid-19

The number of visitors is not large so check-in, security screening procedures are not as long as every year     Most passengers fly to central provinces

Tuan Kiet

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