The Hanoi government has authorized the reopening of all cinemas, theaters, entertainment centers and art performance venues from February 10 after nine-month closure to curb the surge in novel coronavirus infections.

On February 8, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Chu Xuan Dung signed a document on the reopening of cinemas, artistic facilities, and art performance venues in the capital city.

The municipal leadership requested that the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Culture work closely alongside the municipal Department of Health and localities to ensure that cinemas, entertainment centers and art venues strictly comply with Covid-19 prevention protocols for the safety of the audiences.

Film lovers buy tickets to watch movies in Hanoi in May 2020. Photo: Minh An/The Hanoi Times

Previously, in late January, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism asked the Hanoi People's Committee to consider the reopening movie theaters.

The ministry said that there will be empty seats between moviegoers. Electronic ticketing technology will be used to avoid gatherings at ticket counters.

Cinema-goers are required to be double dosed and strictly abide by Covid-19 guidelines, including donning face masks, washing hands with sanitizer and keeping a safe distance among them, the ministry stressed.

It added that cinemas reopening is for entertainment as well as to support film distributors to overcome financial difficulties after nearly two years of cinema closures.

All cinemas are also required to develop scenarios to deal with possible outbreak.

Nguyen Hoang Hai, content director of CGV Cinema, told The Hanoi Times that his firm has been longing for an official decision from the authorities to reopen cinemas.

"We were looking forward to opening the cinema system before the Lunar New Year in Hanoi and many other provinces. The decision came after the holiday but still it is memorable for cinema operators, film producers, and the audiences," Hai said.

“Our cinema system is now fully prepared in terms of facilities for the reopening in Hanoi. I am so happy because the film industry can recoup losses after two years of disruption due to the pandemic,” Doan Thach Cuong, sales director of Lotte Cinema, told The Hanoi Times.