Zalo Connect lets each user identify himself or herself as a person who needs help or as a donor. The app lists food and other necessities from which a user can choose, including rice, milk, noodles, disinfectants, and toilet paper. The list also consists of medical supplies like hypodermic needles, face masks, and medicines. There is also a space for medical consultancy.

People who need help can post their information on Zalo Connect for all Zalo users to see. Donors can search the Zalo Connect map to find requests from people living near them. They then can order the requested necessities to be delivered to the recipients or can deliver them in person. Most of the requestors are students or workers stranded in the city by the pandemic.

Some of them spoke to VOV.

'I’m facing difficulties during the pandemic because I can’t go to work and have no money to take care of my children. The adults in my family have only instant noodles every day and my children have only rice and vegetables.'

'Because of the pandemic, we had to close our business and have no money. We’ve had to ask our parents for help.'

Nhat Ly, a student boarding in Hanoi, has severe arthritis and very little money. Thanks to Zalo Connect, Ly has received support from a donor in HCM City.

She said, 'My friends told me to ask for help on Zalo Connect and I did. At first, I only hoped for rice, eggs, and some other food. But I was lucky enough to receive tuition support, which has really eased my burden.'

After one month, more than 130,000 calls for help have been posted on Zalo Connect, which is now available in Hanoi, HCM City, Long An, Dong Nai, and Binh Duong. This app will soon be available in other localities with social distancing rules.