{"id":1512,"date":"2020-04-15T16:30:15","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T08:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=1512"},"modified":"2020-09-14T22:06:34","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:06:34","slug":"free-supermarkets-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/free-supermarkets-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cHappy Supermarkets\u201d Open In Vietnam For The Underprivileged To Pick Up Groceries For Free"},"content":{"rendered":"

Supermarkets offering free food and clothes in Vietnam<\/h2>\n
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Tough times often bring out the best in people. Since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit Vietnam, many companies and individuals have stepped up to help lower-income workers whose finances suffered greatly due to businesses shutting down.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apec Group, a corporation in Vietnam, is the latest to join the efforts, opening supermarkets in several Vietnamese provinces and cities for those in need to come and get essential groceries all free of charge<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Free groceries<\/h3>\n
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\nThe products do have price tags, but they are just symbolic<\/em>
\nImage credit: tuoitre.vn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Since Monday, free grocery stores named Happy Supermarkets<\/strong>\u00a0have been popping up in 8 cities and provinces across Vietnam. Operating during weekdays from 8AM to 5PM, these are packed with rice, cooking oil, eggs, and other essential items.<\/p>\n

The products do come with symbolic price tags, but they are much cheaper than market prices and are there simply to measure how much each customer can take. As long as the total value of a customer’s purchase doesn\u2019t exceed VND100,000 (~USD4.27)<\/strong>, no payment is required.<\/p>\n

Moreover, to leave more for the others, each person is limited to a maximum of 2 visits a week. The staff will record customers\u2019 names and ID numbers to keep track of this.<\/p>\n

Mr. V\u0169 V\u0103n Ch\u00ednh, a representative from Apec Group, told D\u00e2n Tr\u00ed<\/a><\/em> that these Happy Supermarkets will be expanded to other provinces in the near future. They are intended to operate for the next 3 months to lend a helping hand to the underprivileged. Mr. Ch\u00ednh also calls for other businesses to contribute items, with the ultimate goal being to help everyone make it through the pandemic.<\/p>\n

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Social distancing is still maintained<\/h3>\n
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Realizing that the supermarkets would attract many people, Apec has taken measures to ensure social distancing and minimizing the risk of COVID-19 infection.<\/p>\n

All of the supermarkets have marks on the ground 2M apart for customers to queue along while waiting for their turn.<\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: qdnd.vn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The customers are also required to wear masks, and they will have their temperature measured and hands sanitized upon entry.<\/p>\n

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\nImage credit: tuoitre.vn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Every little bit helps<\/h3>\n
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For the thousands of common workers who have lost their jobs because of the pandemic, charity stores like these are a lifesaver. Such acts of kindness can go a long way in changing someone\u2019s life for the better. Let\u2019s hope that we\u2019ll see more of these, and that the pandemic will be over soon.<\/p>\n

For more COVID-19 stories, check out:<\/p>\n