Sydney (VNA) – Tran Ba Linh, a researcher fromthe University of Bath and Robyn Klingler-Vidra, a Senior Lecturer inPolitical Economy from King's College London have posted on websitetheconversation.com a number of articles highlighting the creativity andcommunity spirit of Vietnamese people amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

Implementing a joint research that has been underway for ayear, the two researchers visited various localities and interviewed localsdirectly and virtually to explore creative models to increase productivity andbenefit the society in Vietnam.

In their latest article, they showed their specialimpression at initiatives and contributions of normal people as well asentrepreneurs with strong sense of social responsibility in supportingdisadvantaged people and the groups that are hardest hit by COVID-19 pandemic sinceFebruary this year.

Some innovations have been aimed at preventing furtherinfections, they noted, citing the example of Da Nang-based tech startupBusMap, which has worked with the authorities to create an infection map tohelp locals avoid hotspots and to find the nearest medical facility.

Meanwhile, newly designed robots have been given the job ofdisinfecting hospitals and public spaces, with different models developedby a militaryhospital in Ho Chi Minh City, students at a privateuniversity in Hanoi and students at a publicuniversity in HCM City.

In the early days of the outbreak, the Ghen Co Vy, or WashingHand Song, composed by local musicians in collaboration with the Ministry ofHealth, went viral around the world for its quirky message and dedicated choreography. Since then,ordinary people have written their own COVID-19 songs.

While the above interventions were mainly dedicated toprevention and control, another group of innovators has focused on alleviatingthe negative social impact of COVID-19.

A famous baker in Saigon by the name of Kao Sieu Luc hasused dragon fruit to make bread, sharing hisrecipe with the country. His intent is to help dragon fruitfarmers who cannot export their crops due to Vietnam’s strict travelrestrictions. The recipe has been taken up not only by ordinary people but alsoby other businesses, resulting in the creation of KFC dragonfruit burger. During the second wave, Kao is making dragon fruitmooncakes as the annual autumn festival draws close.

In Hanoi, doctor Khuat Thi Hai Oanh has set up a charitycalled An Egg A Day toprovide food, masks and essential goods for the homeless and extremely poorfamilies throughout northern Vietnam. The charity also helps people in need tofind work and accommodation, and it subsidises their rent.

Businessman Hoang Tuan Anh in HCM City has built a mask ATM forhis community during the second wave. The machine dispenses free, individuallywrapped masks, with a remote operator to ensure fair distribution and to remindrecipients to wash their hands before touching the dispenser. During the firstwave, Hoang set up thefirst rice ATM in front of his office. The ATM provides free1.5kg of rice and was reported to have dispensed 5 tonnes of rice in its firsttwo days. Hoang’s rice and mask dispensers have been replicated byentrepreneurs and charities across the country, added the authors.

Concluding the article, the authors stated that they hadbeen struck by the range and speed of innovations, and awestruck by the peopleand companies who are working for the greater good./.