New Year's Eve stories about love and sharing amid Covid-19
(VOVWORLD) -Spring has come and the first day of the Lunar New Year or Tet as called by Vietnamese people is approaching. We will talk about a very special Tet, which cherishes love, sharing, kindness, and responsibility. They have made the spirit of Vietnam in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. VOVWorld talks to people who share their stories about kindness and compassion despite challenges.
Studio host Cao Thanh Ha has been back to her daily work at the English section, VOVWorld, 45 Ba Trieu, Hanoi, after completing her mission as a Vietnamese expert in the KBS broadcaster in the Republic of Korea. She found this traditional lunar New Year significant after one year of work impacted by the pandemic in the Korea. "It’s meaningful for me to have a family reunion for Tet and to visit family members and friends again. I treasure my time with my family and it’s nothing to compare with having a joyful Tet in the motherland.”
Ha recalled her flight home from the Republic of Korea that there were 20 Vietnamese children on board not with their parents but strangers. Their parents, who were Vietnamese in the Korea, sent them home and place trust on fellow Vietnamese on the same flight.
"All the Vietnamese on board were very helpful in caring for the kids on route as if they were family members. I respected and treasured this support. It helped me maintain a positive view despite the pandemic. Many people have lost their lives and the world economy is in recession, but we all could rise up with loving care for each other.”
Ha, who underwent a 14-day quarantine period last November in Da Nang city upon her arrival in Vietnam, said the pandemic could push people to never stop moving forward
“I see everything keeps moving. Although the pandemic can make some jobs difficult, we are still moving forward. I myself can be considered a representative of the youth, I see nothing ominous, we will continue to work and contribute. The Vietnamese young generation is just like that, striving to advance.”
Dr Nguyen Lan Hieu, Director of the Hanoi Medical University Hospital is on duty during Tet to ensure a safe holiday for the Vietnamese in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As the front fighter against the pandemic, Dr Nguyen Lan Hieu witnessed stories of caring among the Vietnamese. He has spent all his love for his Vietnamese fellows while on duty and received the same amount of love from them.
“The pandemic is not anyone’s expectation but we have seen major compassion, unity and tolerance in the Vietnamese community. In normal life, people tend to care for themselves. But during the pandemic or wartime, Vietnamese people are more open to help others and foster a sense of love and care. I could feel their heartfelt affection in the pandemic.”
Instead of spending Tet holidays with their families, Dr. Nguyen Lan Hieu and his colleagues will work day and night in the hospital, ready to defeat Covid -19 again. Cases of community infection are not as dangerous as a hospital becoming the source of infection, he said, adding Vietnamese doctors, including him, will try their best to protect themselves and the community. He said he sympathizes with many overseas Vietnamese who could not return to their homeland to welcome Tet.
“This Tet I think we have had a different feeling. We are proud of Vietnam. Our compatriots in all parts of the world will have that feeling as well. Every flight that brings Vietnamese from overseas is full of love. The government and people have braved countless hardships to make those flights possible. There are still thousands of Vietnamese expatriates who cannot return home for Tet. I want to share my sympathy with those who cannot reunite with their families. Hopefully, the pandemic will be over and the next Lunar New Year will see a reunion, a happier Tet.”
In VOVWorld office building, Korean collaborator Kim Yoon-ji has been working with her Vietnamese colleagues in Korean language program production. This will be the first Tet celebration for Kim and her family in Vietnam.“I feel comfortable and relaxed. It’s enjoyable to work with my kind and helpful colleagues as if we were family members. I am appreciative and satisfied of my workplace here”.
Living in Vietnam for 3 years, Kim has joined the local Korean community, including the wife of the Republic of Korean Ambassador to Vietnam, in the preparation of Korean dishes and the production of video clips about cooking.
When the pandemic struck, Kim Yoon-ji was so worried and scared. She complied with preventive measures seriously during the social distancing time. As Vietnam put the pandemic under control and sealed the border, she believed that Vietnam is a safer place than none other. "The number of positive cases in Vietnam is far less than other countries. Even we have seen emerging cases, most were people traveling from overseas back home. Public compliance with preventive measures make me feel comfortable and safe here.”
Korean expert Kim Yoon-ji is still committed to daily production of Korean-language broadcast on Voice of Vietnam. She said she will share with her friends her impressions about Vietnam and its people. “I will definitely say nice things about you. I have close Korean friends so I will invite them to visit Vietnam and then my home. I will wholeheartedly treat them to delicious food and take them to attractive tourist destinations. I feel Vietnam is indeed a wonderful country, which I consider my home. So when others come to my house, I feel very comfortable and ready to spend time with them to relax our soul. I will tell all my friends and relatives: come to Vietnam, come visit my house!”
Truong Tu Thuy, a senior Indonesian language presenter of VOVWorld will spend her Tet in Indonesia. She managed to cook square sticky rice cakes and arrange a tray of 5 fruits for display as part of the Vietnamese New Year tradition.
Thuy once spent her 14 days of quarantine in a designated area controlled by the army in Can Tho City last July. She found the days calm and happy with full of care by the soldiers, who prepared hot meals in both rainy and sunny days. "The images of the Vietnam People’s Army soldiers served people in quarantine and medical staff caring for their health proved the Vietnamese compassionate love for each other during the pandemic. It’s their sacrifice for their fellow Vietnamese people, a tradition passed down by our ancestors.”
When arriving in Indonesia, Ms Thuy was proud when her Indonesian friends sang praises of the Vietnamese government’s successful effort to contain the disease in Vietnam. "I myself and those in Indonesia are in the difficult time with high risks of transmission. The safe environment in Vietnam is a dream for many people. This is a vivid example of the Vietnamese people’s compassion, loving care for each other and their trust in the government.”
Living in Indonesia, Ms Truong Tu Thuy has opened a free class of Vietnamese language for Indonesians in Jakarta, spreading the loving spirit of the Vietnamese. Thuy, other Vietnamese, and foreigners who have got to know how much compassion means in the pandemic, now continue to foster and spread the Vietnamese story about love and sharing to the international community.