The Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City is temporarily locked down for contact tracing and epidemiological investigation. Photo: VNA

“The borders were sealed, and quarantines in army camps vigorously imposed. The public information campaigns were catchy and on-message. And the government was able to harness the nationalism of the population, and move to what seemed like a war time mobilization, complete with the ubiquitous socialist-realism propaganda posters and loudspeakers.”

In addition, what really helps Vietnam fight the pandemic effectively was “a very good public health system that focused on prevention, not costly medical cures,” said The Diplomat.

The article believes that Vietnam will overcome the current difficulties thanks to an effective government, a good public health system and the solidarity of the people. “Most importantly there is a hunger in Vietnam to develop economically, and not be caught in the middle income trap. Coming out of the pandemic as quickly as possible is the key to that,” according to The Diplomat.