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 forestall critical outbreaks. However on July 25, the virus mysteriously resurfaced after 99 days of no infections.

The coastal metropolis of Danang turned the centre of the second wave, and in just a few 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 folks and extraordinary residents have been arising with modern methods to reply to the pandemic. For the previous yr, we’ve been engaged on a analysis challenge targeted on Vietnamese inclusive innovation – which means innovation that helps the group indirectly, with a deal with sharing the advantages with a variety of individuals from completely different socio-economic backgrounds. Via our analysis, we’ve noticed how the pandemic has unfolded throughout the nation.

Throughout each waves, we’ve 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 susceptible have had entry to sustenance, testing, tracing and therapy 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 army 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 information to assist folks keep away from COVID-19 hotspots in Danang.

BusMap

Varied computerized hand-sanitiser dispensers have been assembled by faculty college students across the nation, utilizing commercially accessible elements. On being discharged from hospital, the nation’s 687th coronavirus case even gathered his mates to supply 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 Music, 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, extraordinary folks have written their very own COVID-19 songs, together with one by an lovable father-child duo, titled Fear Not, Danang Will Overcome COVID. The lyrics are concerning the second wave in Danang and remind folks to take precautionary measures.

Assuaging the adverse social impression

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

A well-known baker in Saigon by the title 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 not export their crops resulting from Vietnam’s strict journey restrictions. The recipe has been taken up not solely by extraordinary folks but in addition by different companies, ensuing within the creation of KFC dragon fruit burger. In the course of 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 folks 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 group through the second wave. The machine dispenses free, individually wrapped masks, with a distant operator to make sure truthful distribution and to remind recipients to scrub their arms earlier than touching the dispenser. In the course of the first wave, Hoang arrange the primary rice ATM in entrance of his workplace. The ATM supplies free 1.5kg of rice and was reported to have disbursed 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 learn society in Vietnam. Our fieldwork in 2019 revealed wonderful examples of this taking place across the nation.

Since February 2020, our interviews have develop into digital (often performed over Skype), and the main target of the innovators and social entrepreneurs we interview has shifted to cease the unfold of the virus or to alleviate the social impression of lockdowns.

Over the previous seven months, we’ve been struck by the vary and pace of improvements, and awestruck by the folks and corporations who’re working for the larger good. This pandemic is harrowing for all of us, and it’s essential to remain updated on every day figures on infections and deaths. However every interview we’ve performed in Vietnam has additionally reminded us of humanity’s virtues. These heartening examples of solidarity can assist us all get by way of 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 Impression 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 Impression Acceleration Account.*