Hai Dinh Ngo, currently studying at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), returned to Vietnam in the middle of March this year to visit his family, where he was quarantined for 14 days to prevent the spread of infection.
Hai, 23, a current MSc International Business student and BA Film Production graduate, told us about his experiences in quarantine.
“I arrived in Vietnam a couple of months ago on the 18 March and I was immediately detained at the airport with thousands of other international arrivals to the country because the government decided, whilst we were on the plane, that to prevent the spread and protect the public, it was best to detain us.”
“When we arrived there, we were all shocked by the situation, and we realised how ignorant we were in terms of coronavirus awareness,” he added.
After being released from quarantine, Hai decided to set up an NGO, a non-Governmental and not-for-profit organisation, in Ho Chi Minh city to help others in quarantine and foreign visitors to the country.
“I just started with translation work, I had to instruct people to their rooms and what to do with their bags, and to brief them and give information.
“With other young people who were fluent in English, we sat together at a table near the administration room and dozens of others, foreigners would come to us and we would translate everything back to them, to save time for other people.”
Through his translating and helping the government officials in Vietnam, Hai and his charity have helped support travellers from at least 13 countries, including the USA, Brazil and China.
His charity, P.A.C.K (Patriots Against Corona Killer), has also allowed Hai and his team to help deliver over 5000 home-cooked meals to staff and detainees at local quarantine facilities.
“The nurses and doctors, and militants, they’re all here and they’re all away from their families for two months and counting, we had to do something to show them appreciation,” he told us.
“The dedication of the military and sacrifice of the medical workers, who are still now operating away from their families at these facilities, living there in close quarters and still helping people.
“It’s been quite a life-changing experience for me because I consider myself as one of the more privileged younger generation that don’t have that awareness of caring for others but seeing the actions of the nurses who have bluntly told me ‘you don’t need to help me, just stay healthy’.”
Hai also admitted that quarantine has influenced his perception of society.
He told us: “I don’t feel entitled anymore and I feel like that perception has gone for me, I feel like whatever action I take will have consequences for others.
“I feel the obligation to contribute to society even more, rather than leaning back and taking whatever comes.”
Vietnam has a population of 97 million and shares a border with China but has only seen a total of 328 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and no deaths, which Hai claims is a result of the country’s fast reactions.
“We were one of the first countries to issue social distancing, as early as late January, and it is the quick decision to shut down the border and take care of people first.”
“That’s how Vietnamese are – we understand the risk and we say ‘okay, we need to stay home no matter what, we need to make sacrifices’, so our neighbours, sons and daughters don’t get this deadly virus,” he said.
“We have the mentality of not leaving anybody behind.”
Staff at Nottingham Trent University have also praised Hai for his actions and volunteering in Vietnam.
Dr Ofelia Palermo, the programme leader of MSc International Business at the Nottingham Business School, said: “At Nottingham Business School we are proud of our international community and it is our mission to create globally responsible citizens, it is our passion and what we work for.
“Hai is a testimony of what a student can do with the synergy between knowledge, will and passion,” she added.
By Faith Pring
All images credit: Hai Dinh Ngo