Vietnam was a transparent success story of the COVID-19 pandemic by Might, recording very low an infection charges and being broadly praised for locking down early to stop severe outbreaks. However on July 25, the virus mysteriously resurfaced after 99 days of no infections.

The coastal metropolis of Danang grew to become the centre of the second wave, and in a number of days of the primary new case, the virus had unfold so far as Hanoi and Saigon. On July 31, this resurgence broke Vietnam’s no-deaths streak. The demise toll is now 35 countrywide, with 1,059 infections because the starting of the pandemic.

However all through the primary and second waves, Vietnamese enterprise individuals and peculiar residents have been developing with modern methods to reply to the pandemic. For the previous 12 months, we’ve got been engaged on a analysis venture centered on Vietnamese inclusive innovation – that means innovation that helps the neighborhood in a roundabout way, with a give attention to sharing the advantages with a variety of individuals from completely different socio-economic backgrounds. Via our analysis, we’ve got noticed how the pandemic has unfolded throughout the nation.

Throughout each waves, we’ve got been struck by how grassroots innovators and socially minded entrepreneurs have helped to melt the blow of the pandemic. Right here, we wish to share a few of these excellent news tales, drawing on our analysis into how inclusive innovation has meant that society’s most weak have had entry to sustenance, testing, tracing and remedy all through the disaster.

Prevention, identification and consciousness

Some pandemic improvements have been geared toward stopping additional infections. Within the centre of the outbreak, Danang, native tech startup BusMap has labored with the authorities to create an an infection map to assist locals keep away from hotspots and to seek out the closest medical facility.

In the meantime, newly designed robots have been given the job of disinfecting hospitals and public areas, with completely different fashions developed by a navy hospital in Saigon, college students at a personal college in Hanoi and college students at a public college in Saigon.

BusMap makes use of authorities knowledge to assist individuals keep away from COVID-19 hotspots in Danang.

BusMap

Numerous computerized hand-sanitiser dispensers have been assembled by college college students across the nation, utilizing commercially obtainable components. On being discharged from hospital, the nation’s 687th coronavirus case even gathered his associates to provide disinfectant and sanitising cubicles, which he donated to hospitals, together with the one which had handled him.

Within the early days of the outbreak, the Ghen Co Vy, or Washing Hand Track, composed by native musicians in collaboration with the Ministry of Well being went viral all over the world for its quirky message and devoted choreography. Since then, peculiar individuals have written their very own COVID-19 songs, together with one by an lovely father-child duo, titled Fear Not, Danang Will Overcome COVID. The lyrics are in regards to the second wave in Danang and remind individuals to take precautionary measures.

Assuaging the unfavorable social influence

Whereas the above interventions have been primarily devoted to prevention and management, one other group of innovators has centered on assuaging the unfavorable social influence of COVID-19.

A well-known baker in Saigon by the identify of Kao Sieu Luc has used dragon fruit to make bread, sharing his recipe with the nation. His intent is to assist dragon fruit farmers who can’t export their crops as a consequence of Vietnam’s strict journey restrictions. The recipe has been taken up not solely by peculiar individuals but in addition by different companies, ensuing within the creation of KFC dragon fruit burger. Through the second wave, Kao is making dragon fruit mooncakes because the annual autumn competition attracts shut.

In Hanoi, physician Khuat Thi Hai Oanh has arrange a charity known as An Egg A Day to supply meals, masks and important items for the homeless and very poor households all through northern Vietnam. The charity additionally helps individuals in want to seek out work and lodging, and it subsidises their hire.

Saigon businessman Hoang Tuan Anh has constructed a masks ATM for his neighborhood in the course of the second wave. The machine dispenses free, individually wrapped masks, with a distant operator to make sure truthful distribution and to remind recipients to clean their arms earlier than touching the dispenser. Through the first wave, Hoang arrange the primary rice ATM in entrance of his workplace. The ATM offers free 1.5kg of rice and was reported to have distributed 5 tonnes of rice in its first two days. Hoang’s rice and masks dispensers have been replicated by entrepreneurs and charities throughout the nation.

Discovering humanity in a pandemic

After we began this analysis, we got down to conduct interviews and fieldwork to trace how inclusive innovation is advancing productiveness, and extra broadly, striving to profit society in Vietnam. Our fieldwork in 2019 revealed superb examples of this taking place across the nation.

Since February 2020, our interviews have turn out to be digital (often carried out over Skype), and the main focus of the innovators and social entrepreneurs we interview has shifted to cease the unfold of the virus or to alleviate the social influence of lockdowns.

Over the previous seven months, we’ve been struck by the vary and velocity of improvements, and awestruck by the individuals and corporations who’re working for the higher good. This pandemic is harrowing for all of us, and it’s vital to remain updated on each day figures on infections and deaths. However every interview we’ve got carried out in Vietnam has additionally reminded us of humanity’s virtues. These heartening examples of solidarity may help us all get by this disaster.

Ba-Linh Tran receives funding for this analysis from King’s School London, together with funding from the Division of Worldwide Improvement and the ESRC Influence Acceleration Account.

Robyn Klingler-Vidra receives funding for this analysis from King’s School London, together with funding from the Division of Worldwide Improvement and the ESRC Influence Acceleration Account.*