Matt Ryan uses his free time during lockdown to cook and deliver free food to frontline workers. (Photo courtesy of Matt Ryan)Adaptingto the new situations with strict social distancing regulations is not easy foranyone, let alone foreigners who do not have a family around for support and donot speak Vietnamese.
Withstringent restrictions in place in many localities, a simple thing like doinggroceries can turn out to be a challenging task.
AdrianJohn Leeds, a Brit living in Hoan Kiem district, Hanoi, said he wasstruggling to buy food during the early days when the city applied strict socialdistancing under Directive 16 in late July.
“Inthe beginning of the lockdown, it was really tough," he told Vietnam News.
"Theonly place I could safely buy food was my local small grocery store. But, theyran out of food very quickly and all that was left was 'student food' likenoodles and sausages.”
Thisresulted in him losing three kilogrammes over a month.
Luckily,the problem resolved over time as the shop eventually restocked and he was ableto buy more food to meet his needs.
Adrianhas been living in Vietnam for three years working as a photographer andfounder of a design consultancy.
Hesaid before COVID, he would regularly travel to other Southeast Asian countriesfor work and pleasure.
Now,he mostly stays at home and only goes out once or twice a week to get groceriesand even could not meet his Vietnamese fiancée in person for six weeks althoughthey don’t live too far apart.
Amidthe gloomy days, a nice surprise has come to him that warmed his heart. OnSeptember 3, local officials came to his house to give him a COVID-19supportive package – a bag full of essential food, health supplies and 500,000VND (22 USD).
“Iam very happy with the support I have received, even if it's a smallgesture," he added.
“Iwas not expecting anything. I felt like I was not forgotten. It seems like theGovernment wants to look after its expat community.”
UnlikeAdrian, Chris Saint, an Australian retiree living in Hoi An did not havetrouble buying food.
Butfor him, the main issue was access to accurate information.
Chriscited the fact that most decisions and decrees by the authority are announcedin Vietnamese without an English translation while many expats cannot speak thelanguage.
“Expatsare often in the dark to the details of any government action," he said.This makes it harder for them to comply and difficult for them to accessservices.”
Asa locality which saw a rapid rise in COVID infections, Hoi An started socialdistancing orders under Decree 16 on July 31.
“Therewere issues in the first week of the lockdown due to lack of clarity,” Chrissaid.
“Manyforeigners have to rely on information from social media as a primary source ofinformation.”
Asan administrator of a Facebook group for expats living in Da Nang, Hoi An andHue with nearly 10,000 members, Chris has been sharing as much information aspossible, especially from official media outlets published in English “topromote factual information.”
Headded that another problem many expats were facing was financial difficulties.
Personally,Chris is not bearing this burden as his family has their own savings to keepthem going through this tough time.
Butfrom his observation, he said it was a real issue for many expats who had losttheir income and did not have the reserves to sustain themselves for along period of time.
MattRyan, a British owner of a restaurant in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City, alsolost his regular income as his restaurant had to close for months amid thesevere COVID outbreak in the southern economic hub.
Hisbusiness was only allowed to reopen on September 8 when the city eased somerestrictions but he and his staff are still struggling to keep it running amidshortage of input materials.
However,for Matt, this is a small price to pay in order for the country to contain thepandemic and bring society back to its feet. “It's tough, it's reallytough,” he said.
“Butour city is facing an unprecedented emergency and the authorities are doingwhat they think is best to get it under control and protect the hospitals frombeing completely overrun.”
Althoughhis business was disrupted, Matt didn’t let any time be wasted. He and hisstaff in the restaurant decided to cook free meals to frontline workers in thecity.
Thinkingpositively is the way he chooses to navigate this challenging time.
“Wehave to be strong, look after one another and stay positive as best we can.This too shall pass,” he said.
Mattalso appreciates the Government’s efforts in supporting the expat community.
Heand his wife both had their first vaccination shot arranged by the localauthority.
“Therewas no difference in the procedure to get the vaccine between local people andforeigners,” he said.
ChrisSaint also feels blessed that he is now in Vietnam. “I feel safe where Iam due to the efforts of the Government and the frontline people. Safer than Iwould in my own home country,” he said.
LikeMatt, Chris spent time doing charity work to provide free food to poor peoplein his neighbourhood.
“Couldlife be better? Absolutely. There has never been a time better than now toappreciate what you do have,” he said.
“Peopleneed to value health and family above everything else. Prosperity will have towait.”/.
VNA
