Tourists wear face masks while traveling around Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - As the number of COVID-19 infected cases jumpsevery day, Vietnam has taken measures to prevent and control the virus, forexample, quarantining those who are suspected of infection, those returningfrom pandemic-hit areas, asking everyone to wear face masks in public areas andtightening immigration policies.
Viet Nam News speaks to locals and expats about the measures and how they feelliving in Vietnam during the pandemic.
Garrett Mauris, American expat in Hanoi
All schools were suspended following the virus outbreak so I do not go to work.As the weekend pedestrian street around Hoàn Kiem Lake, my favourite spot, isclosed, I mostly stay inside watching movies and cooking as days pass by.
I get updates on the virus from Reddit, Hanoi Massive Facebook community and myVietnamese friends. I have some food but not much more than normal, I still goto the grocery store but didn't buy any more toilet paper.
The Vietnamese Government has had a swift and strong response to the virus. Ithink they've done a good job containing it.
Against all odds, I feel safer staying in Hanoi than I would be in the US wherethe treatment expenses are very expensive and not everybody gets insurance tocover or partially cover necessary treatments.
Billy Gray, British expat in Hanoi
I feel like Vietnam is doing a good job so far in containing the virus. Theimmigration and quarantine measures are unfortunately necessary to stop thespread from being imported from abroad.
I think the timely response of the Vietnamese authorities in closing the borderwith China and later the rest of the world has definitely saved lives here.
As a foreigner living in Hanoi, I’m quite content to go along with therecommendations and measures put in place by the Government here. Frankly, I’mjust glad there’s still toilet paper going around.
I have heard some stories of foreigners being verbally assaulted and refusedservice in cafes and hotels around Vietnam, and this is quite sad.Unfortunately, I’ve also heard similar stories coming out of the UK, Australia,and elsewhere. People are worried for their family’s sake, and they’re prone toshifting the blame on the ‘other’. It’s something that we should work togetherto overcome.
The coronavirus pandemic isn’t about to go away any time soon, so I think it’simportant that Vietnam doesn’t relax their control measures too soon, either.Obviously, this causes a lot of negative economic impacts, which means a lot ofpeople can’t earn a living – and I hope that people are managing well under thecircumstances.
The reality of the situation is that until more stringent testing can becarried out around the world, the best defence that I think Vietnam has is tokeep its borders closed – even though that means that myself and many otherswho are returning home soon won’t be able to come back here for the foreseeablefuture.
Amélie Huynh Le Maux, French expat in HCM City
Living in Vietnam for four years, it never ceases to surprise me! The earliermeasures the Government took were efficient when we compare internationalcases’ numbers.
Concerning tightening immigration policies, I understand doing it to avoidvirus spreading. My only fear is not being able to stay in Vietnam that Iconsider as my country, if it is tightened again.
At first, I found the virus prevention and control measures very restrictivebut, as a lot of foreigners, I did not experience a virus outbreak before, andI was maybe too relaxed. Now, I wear a mask, not really to be safer because itdoes not work this way and I take precautions (washing hands andself-confinement as much as possible), but to protect others and easeVietnamese people. They sometimes glare at us because they are anxious nearforeigners. I do not blame them, everyone is anxious, and we see some negativebehaviours all over the world, but these are just isolated cases, a lot ofpeople support each other too!
I am thankful to Vietnam for the measures taken because I feel safe here. We donot have total confinement, as in my home country, and actions are fast forsmaller confinement of buildings if needed.
Josh Stewart, British expat in Hanoi
Vietnam's policies have been spot on as far as I can tell. In my eyes they haveset the benchmark for how the rest of the world should tackle this issue. Whilethe European powers have denied COVID 19's implications, Vietnam hasn't messedaround.
As a foreigner living here I feel safer than if I was at home. I understandthat there has been some friction between foreigners and locals however I havenot experienced that myself.
The Government has done good things for virus protection in the name of immigrationpolicies for those entering the country. However they haven't addressed theissue of residency for foreigners who are already here in a long term. A numberof my colleagues and friends have labour contracts expiring soon, and with it,their legal right to stay here. With borders across the world closing, prettysoon many of us will be stranded.
When it comes to isolation I feel the authorities could be stricter. I stillsee many people, locals and foreigners alike, going about their daily businessand socialising. Many don't have masks. I get it, isolation can be boring andyou have to take care of your mental health. But this could all be over by theend of April if everyone simply knuckled down and stayed inside.
Hanh Khue, Vietnamese, NGO employee
At 11pm on March 6, fences started being put up in my neighbourhood on ThuyKhue street, Tay Ho district after the 17th patient who failed to declare herhealth status after returning from London tested positive for COVID-19. Myneighbour, a receptionist at Hong Ngoc Hospital, was reportedly in contact withthe patient and sent to a centralised quarantine area that night.Astronaut-like medical workers in their hazmat suits immediately appeared andsprayed disinfectant along the alley. A task force was sent to inspect myneighbour’s contacts since her encounter with the patient and found out thatshe shopped at a nearby grocery store the day before. Both her house and thestore were then kept under lockdown.
The rapid response did help to ease residents’ panic and discrimination towardsisolated people, conversely, they were willing to offer guard forces and thosekept under isolation assistance when needed.
However, for people who have to home-quarantine, it was necessary for localauthorities to make an official announcement sent to every household,explaining their conditions and the reasons for the measures taken to stop rumoursfrom spreading.
Linh Chi, Vietnamese, social worker in Hanoi
Although citizens are encouraged to stay away from crowds, I had to stillcommute from Ha Dong district to downtown Ba Trieu street by bus daily beforebeing allowed to work from home from March 19. Drivers, attendants andpassengers wore masks even before the Government’s request took effect on March16.
Now and then when a rider gets on a bus without having their mouth covered,they will be reminded by fellow passengers. Many buses turn off their airconditioners and have windows opened, allowing natural circulation of air.
It is good to see how good community awareness and authorities’ responses tothe disease are.
Meanwhile, I think it is critical to instruct people how to deal with theirused facemasks to both keep the environment clean and prevent profiteers fromcollecting them for resale./.
VNA
