Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – CounterPunch, a USmagazine, has recently run an article highlighting the strength of socialsolidarity in the fight against COVID-19 in Vietnam.
Vietnam acted quickly and decisively to contain theCOVID-19 pandemic by closing its borders, prohibiting flights from other countries,no longer issuing visas to foreign nationals, contact tracing, quarantine, anda short-lived nationwide shutdown, the article said.
Government actions would have been diluted, however,if the people had not cooperated by wearing face masks, observing socialdistancing and, at one point, only leaving their homes for essentials.
Vietnam is well-positioned with a younger generationthat is more individualistic than that of its parents because of theircountry’s integration into the global community, the Internet, and the factthat they are growing up in a time of peace, yet still possesses a strong sense of solidarity (“mutual supportwithin a group”) and identification with the collective, which is heightened intimes of crisis.
COVID-19 was presented and understood as an invisibleenemy against which the people had to unite. This solidarity ensures that mostpeople will behave in an empathetic and compassionate manner when need be.
The article cited a British Council New GenerationVietnam survey as saying that 72 percent of respondents believe their countrywill be better off in 15 years than it was before 2019, which reflects thewell-documented optimism of the Vietnamese people.
Their concerns and suggestions focus on corruption,political engagement, environmental protection, gender equality, and improvingthe economy and entrepreneurship./.
VNA
