Coronavirus restrictions were extended in Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Monday for another two weeks, as authorities roll out plans to test the city’s 8 million population to contain the rise in cases that began at the end of April.

Throughout the majority of the pandemic, Vietnam has successfully managed the situation. However, the Delta variant has become more of a challenge in recent months.

There have been over 536,000 cases in Vietnam, with 13,385 fatalities, the majority being within the last few months.

Citizens in Hanoi have been instructed to remain at home and all non-essential activities were stopped in July, with the capital divided into red, orange and green areas depending on the risk of infection, Reuters reports.

"People in quarantine camps, isolated areas or in red areas will be tested three times per week," according to a statement by city authorities late on Monday, going on to add that people in other zones would be tested every five to seven days using either a PCR or rapid antigen test.

Hanoi has reported an average 50 cases per day, registering more than 4,100 since the start of the pandemic, according to official data.

Authorities in the city are determined to prevent the outbreak from reaching levels reported in Ho Chi Minh City, which makes up almost half of the total number of cases and 80% of fatalities.

In the southern business hub – where a strict lockdown is in place until 15 September – people have been urged to carry out self-testing using antigen kits as health services started to become overwhelmed.

Phan Van Mai, chairman of Ho Chi Minh City, announced on Monday that some restaurants in safe zones would be permitted to reopen for takeaways, and city authorities would consider gradually reopening the economy.

One-third of Hanoi's citizens have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and the Health Ministry has called on the capital and Ho Chi Minh City to vaccinate all adults with at least one dose by 15 September.