The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread social-economic impacts on the global scale for the past 2 years. Vietnam is considered to have built a success story with its fight against novel COVID-19 waves in 2020 from spreading in the community. However, since April 2021 Vietnam is facing the most severe COVID-19 outbreak with the emergence of the Delta variant. Facing the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, many enterprises have done their best to respond proactively, adapt, and adhere to suitable measures issued by the Government to "adapt safely, flexible," and "live together" with the pandemic. This study, therefore, aims to explore from the perspective and observations of a typical convenience store in grocery retail regarding their prevention and response plan in ensuring work safety and dealing with the risk of contracting the Coronavirus infection in Can Tho City, Vietnam. Furthermore, we will conduct a comparison on business operation before and during the stage of “new normal”, then offering a few solutions to help businesses operate and grow sustainably in the context of prolonged COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic, retail, convenience store, preventive measures, Vietnam