Alexis Luu/ Writer
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As many know, the coronavirus was first detected in early November in China. Because of this, much of the public eye has been focused on Asia and its response to the outbreak. Many have looked to Singapore, South Korea, and Japan for guidance on how to beat this deadly virus. However, a country whose success story is often overlooked is Vietnam. Vietnam borders China, yet has not reported a single coronavirus related death. With a population of 97 million, the country has only 349 confirmed cases. It is the biggest nation without coronavirus deaths. But how did Vietnam achieve what the United States and many others couldn’t?
Vietnam is a country notorious for its crowded and bustling streets that are swamped with motorbikes at every turn. As one of the most densely populated countries in the world, eyes have been on Vietnam to see what their response has been. Six months into the pandemic, Vietnam has stayed consistent with its health measures. It has the same standard health precautions that many countries have followed; hands are sprayed with sanitizer before entering a public space, shopping carts are wiped with disinfectant before being passed along, and masks are worn virtually everywhere. The statistics have incited lots of debate as to whether the numbers have been fixed or not. As a communist regime, many skeptics suspect Vietnam of covering up COVID-19 deaths because of its shared border with China and limited resources.
To support their numbers, however, one must take a look at the country’s ability to swiftly take action. Timing is crucial when it comes to the coronavirus. After all, this airborne virus is one that spreads exponentially and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon. Both the United States and Vietnam reported cases in the same week in January. However, this is where the similarities end. Unlike the US, Vietnam took action right away and treated its first cases early in January, and made sure to trace any contacts and restrict movement.The Ho Chi Minh City government stated that for every 300 people infected, 84000 people would have to quarantine. In contrast, the United States didn’t begin lockdown until March 15, two months after Vietnam had begun its safety protocols. Although this may seem like a trivial detail, it could’ve prevented hundreds of thousands of cases. According to Columbia University, if the United States had just gone into lockdown on March 8 instead of March 15, nearly 36000 coronavirus related deaths could have been avoided. These numbers show the monumental effect timing has on this deadly virus.
Although social media has led to some false information to be widespread throughout Vietnam, it has heightened citizens’ awareness of the virus and the precautions they should take. Experts believe that Vietnam’s success comes from its citizens’ ability to spread awareness of the disease without causing mass hysteria and panic. This allows for the country to foster meaningful cooperation between the government and civil society. The benefits of this are incomparable. It is a primary reason as to how the country has overcome the impossible and is now a role model for nations everywhere.
Upon a deeper dissection of Vietnam’s COVID-19 protocols, one can see the threefold plan that Vietnam had organized to keep its record numbers. As of late June, Vietnam has 349 confirmed cases, 328 of which have been recovered. These numbers are extraordinary and they are due to Vietnam’s government strategy. While the policies implemented are controversial regarding upholding civil liberties, there is no doubt that they are effective. The first part of the plan was to enforce temperature screening and testing. In February, Vietnam implemented a plan where anyone arriving at an airport in a major Vietnamese city has to go through a body temperature screening and fill out a health self-declaration that lists their contact details and travel history. Those with a body temperature over 38C are taken for additional testing and those who lie or refuse to comply with these procedures may face harsh punishments such as criminal charges. Many other businesses throughout the country have also implemented their own screening procedures. This crucial process is one that is strictly enforced, and its widespread influence has a huge effect on the country.
The second part of Vietnam’s intensive plan is targeted lockdowns. In March, Vietnam started to lock down entire cities. Traveling between cities is highly restricted and citizens are urged to stay home. In central Vietnam, Danang has ordered that all those who aren’t a registered resident of the city but still want to enter must undergo a 14 day quarantine at a government approved facility at their own cost. Small villages of a couple thousand people have been completely fenced off for single cases. Businesses are closed down and the tourism and airline industries are virtually frozen. These harsh efforts have contributed to Vietnam’s great success.
As previously mentioned, communication was a crucial component to Vietnam’s success. From the very beginning, the Vietnamese government has been transparent about the severity of this virus. It is not simply a bad flu, but rather something to be taken seriously. Every day, different branches of the Vietnamese government text citizens with important information such as additional details on symptoms and protection measures. The country has also gone to great lengths and partnered with popular messaging apps like Zalo as another effective way of spreading information. Vietnam’s ability to successfully communicate with its people is a huge contributor to its tremendous success.
These three phases that Vietnam has implemented to fight the coronavirus may not settle well with liberal principles, but they are undoubtedly effective. Its impeccable timing allowed the country to avoid the deaths of many, which is something the United States failed to do. The policies demonstrated have allowed for Vietnam’s healthcare system to treat each patient, allowing COVID-19 deaths to be at zero. Vietnam’s “overreaction” has allowed the country to exceed expectations and become a role model for nations everywhere. The future looks uncertain for the United States as the pandemic’s momentum does not seem to be slowing down anytime soon. One can only wonder, if the United States had used the same drastic measures as Vietnam, would we be in our current state?
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