Top 10 heartwarming stories from Vietnam's fight against COVID-19

A simple yet powerful image that deeply moved the online community was the story of the "Uniformed Transporters" – police officers at the Vanda Hotel (Nguyen Van Linh street, Da Nang) securing the quarantine location. On March 22, a special 2-year-old girl, Ho Wing Ki from Hong Kong, was among the 36 guests and staff completing their mandatory quarantine at the hotel. She became the focus of a viral photo that gained millions of likes and shares on social media.

At 9 AM on March 22, after 14 days of quarantine, the gates of the Vanda Hotel opened. Little Ho Wing Ki, held by her mother, sought out Officer Tùng and Officer Tài, the "Transporters," to thank them for their kindness in bringing free porridge during her isolation. Unfortunately, both officers were unavailable due to their reassignment to other duties at different quarantine checkpoints. However, the officers sent their warmest wishes to Ho Wing Ki and her mother for a safe return to Hong Kong.

During their 14-day shift at the Vanda Hotel, these officers were quietly supported by anonymous community members who delivered hot bread, milk, fresh fruit juice, and even warm blankets to help them stay energized during their long nights. Through social media, they expressed their gratitude for the local community's love and support. But this was not an isolated act; throughout Da Nang, residents were inspired by "The People's Transporters." This term was coined by locals in Khuê Trung ward to describe the police officers who went door-to-door, delivering rice bags and instant noodle boxes to the needy, the elderly, and those with disabilities.

The Khuê Trung Police's program "Supporting Those in Need During the COVID-19 Crisis" raised over 1 ton of rice, 200 boxes of noodles, 600 cloth masks, and 200 bars of soap, which were distributed to hundreds of vulnerable families in the ward. The officers' selfless actions strengthened the community and helped ensure that residents could unite to fight the pandemic.

Another story that gained widespread praise was that of Captain Lê Nhật Bão from Chính Gián ward. During the pandemic, Captain Bão organized donations of rice, noodles, and eggs to support the poor. On April 10, he and his team delivered 6 gift packages to local security personnel and 30 packages to low-income families. In addition, he donated 100kg of rice to 20 households, ensuring it was personally delivered to their doors.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, while news of the pandemic filled the media, the sight of Da Nang's police officers, traffic police, and youth volunteers working tirelessly – from bus stations to fishing ports to tourist areas – to distribute free masks and share public health messages became a symbol of hope and resilience, drawing admiration from both locals and visitors alike.

When COVID-19 erupted, many in the medical, military, and police forces had to leave their families behind, sacrificing personal happiness to remain on the frontlines. In some cases, even when family members passed away, these brave individuals were unable to return home to mourn due to the urgent demands of their duties.

On May 16, heartbreaking images circulated on social media of a sergeant who was serving on the frontlines of the pandemic, holding back his grief as he could not return home for his mother's funeral.

On May 15, Sergeant Phùng Minh Phục, stationed at Battalion 1, Regiment 738 of the Long An Provincial Military Command, received the news that his mother had suddenly passed away. Due to the worsening pandemic situation, he had no choice but to stay at the quarantine facility to continue his mission.

Upon hearing the news, his unit commander allowed Sergeant Phục to set up a small altar at the quarantine site to honor his mother, allowing him and his fellow officers to pay their respects.

A few days earlier, the quarantine facility at Regiment 738 had received 43 people returning from the United States. Sergeant Phục was one of five officers responsible for handling the quarantine and directly interacting with these citizens.

Photos of Sergeant Phùng Minh Phục, mourning his mother while on duty at the quarantine site, were shared on social media, sparking an outpouring of emotion from the online community. Many people left words of encouragement, wishing him strength to complete his mission and return home soon.

On May 15, a deeply emotional post appeared on social media, written by a female doctor from the Central Tropical Diseases Hospital in Hanoi, sharing the heartbreaking experiences of her colleagues:

Saturday, the tenth day of quarantine. Have you ever seen a doctor crying while examining a patient?

"That’s me today!" she wrote.

In the morning, she received the news that a colleague’s mother had passed away the previous night. Both the colleague and their spouse were on the frontline fighting COVID-19 at the hospital, unable to return home for the funeral. She thought of their two children, left in the care of their grandmother, now orphaned, with no parents to return to. Her heart was heavy with sorrow.

While attending a hospital meeting, the doctor was informed that a nurse had been assaulted by a COVID-19 patient who had stormed into the administrative office, shouting and choking the nurse after demanding the director's phone number. The nurse, barely 1.5 meters tall and weighing around 40 kilograms, was helpless as the patient strangled her, causing the doctor to cry uncontrollably.

In the midst of her grief, the doctor received another notification that a patient’s condition had worsened and required immediate examination. She quickly donned her protective gear and rushed to treat the patient while still in tears.

After finishing the patient’s examination, the doctor returned to see her fellow nurses quietly pushing a food cart to serve meals to the patients, including the one who had assaulted their colleague.

How could she keep going? How could she answer the question of why she chose this profession?

For almost a month since the outbreak of COVID-19, many in healthcare, the military, and law enforcement have been separated from their families, sacrificing their personal happiness to remain on the frontlines. Many have become exhausted, fainting after long hours in full protective gear. Some have even been unable to return home for a loved one’s funeral because of their urgent responsibilities on the frontline of this battle.

Among the healthcare workers treating COVID-19 patients at Binh Thuan General Hospital, Nurse Nguyễn Thị Liên made a heart-wrenching sacrifice, choosing to stay at the hospital and continue fighting the pandemic rather than attend her mother’s funeral. Nurse Liên’s story has become a powerful symbol of the selflessness and dedication of frontline healthcare workers.

The day when 7 out of 9 COVID-19 patients in Binh Thuan tested negative after more than two weeks of treatment should have been a day of joy for Nurse Nguyễn Thị Liên. However, the devastating news of her mother’s passing hit her like a thunderbolt. Although her mother was nearly 90 years old and had been bedridden for more than five years due to a stroke, the news was still a shock to Liên.

“It was so sudden,” Liên shared. “Before I joined the Infectious Disease Department to fight COVID-19, my mother was in relatively good health. But during these 20 days, I received the news that she had passed away. It broke my heart because I couldn’t even see her one last time.”

The pain of losing her mother was unimaginable, but for Nurse Liên, the hardest part was not being able to mourn her mother’s death amidst the COVID-19 crisis. Upon hearing the tragic news, the hospital’s leadership and her colleagues expressed their condolences, and Liên was left in stunned silence, tears streaming down her face for hours.

In the dead of night, Nurse Liên made the difficult decision to delay her mourning and stay with her 20 colleagues in the Infectious Disease Department to continue the fight against the pandemic. This was essential to prevent the spread of the virus, as she was directly caring for the patients. Despite the overwhelming grief, Nurse Liên expressed her determination to keep working with her colleagues to stop the virus from spreading and to help those infected. “My greatest wish is for the patients to recover quickly, so that I can wear mourning clothes and light incense for my mother,” she said.

On April 2, Trung úy Nguyễn Đình Thông, the commander of the Thạnh Trị Border Guard Station in Long An, received heartbreaking news: his father had passed away due to illness. Despite his deep sorrow and desire to be with his family, Trung úy Thông had to remain at his post, focused on the critical mission of preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Unable to return home and say goodbye to his father, Trung úy Thông could only perform a distant farewell, bowing his head in mourning. With the approval of the Long An Border Guard Command and the Thạnh Trị Station leadership, a small altar was set up at the checkpoint so that Thông and his colleagues could honor his father’s memory.

Trung úy Thông shared that his father had been ill for some time, but the sudden passing still took him by surprise. Just days before, he had spoken to his father over the phone and promised that once the pandemic was under control, he would visit him. The last time he saw his father was during the recent Lunar New Year holiday.

"When I received the news of my father's sudden death, as the eldest son, I felt a deep sense of loss. I longed to go home and see him one last time, but with the critical stage of the pandemic response underway, I had no choice but to bid him farewell from afar. I just hope that the situation improves soon so I can return and honor his memory," Trung úy Thông said with sadness.

Trung úy Thông is from Kim Hoa village in Hương Sơn district, Hà Tĩnh province. His father, also a border guard, inspired Thông to pursue a career in the military. After graduating in 2018, he was assigned to Thạnh Trị Border Guard Station as the commander of the Armed Unit. Not long after starting his duties, his father fell ill, and due to the nature of his work, Thông had limited opportunities to visit home.

"Before the Lunar New Year in 2020, we went to Lao Cai City. We finally bought a groom’s suit for 2.5 million VND and wore it for our wedding photos."

Major Triệu Văn Hùng, Head of the Anti-Drug and Crime Unit at the Y Tý Border Guard Station in Lao Cai, explained this as he shared his story about postponing his wedding. At 32, Hùng is considered a late bloomer in his village, Hy Cương in Việt Trì, Phú Thọ, and every time he returns from the border, people encourage him to settle down and get married.

But the villagers know Hùng carries heavy responsibilities. His father, Triệu Việt Thanh, 54, works as a factory worker at Bai Bang Paper Mill and earns just over 4 million VND per month. His mother, Nguyễn Thị Sâm, 56, suffers from kidney failure and is frequently hospitalized at the Central Endocrinology Hospital in Hanoi. Hùng’s salary is the family’s main source of income, covering his mother’s medical expenses and supporting his younger sister, Triệu Thanh Trang, a student at the University of Economics in Hanoi.

In 2009, Hùng passed the entrance exam for the Border Guard Academy, graduating in 2013. After completing his service in An Giang, he was transferred to Lao Cai in 2016.

In August 2019, Hùng met and fell in love with Sầm Hải Yến, a 26-year-old teacher from the Giáy ethnic group in Mường Hum, Bát Xát District, Lao Cai. During the Lunar New Year, they decided to get married, and Hùng informed his superiors and both families, setting the wedding date for April 28.

"I didn’t get any leave in 2019, so I planned to take time off for the wedding," Hùng recalled. The couple lived nearly 50 km apart, so they rented a small 13m² room in Mường Hum for Yến. The room only had one bed, making Yến anxious. "You need to hurry and buy blankets, sheets, and pillows," she told him. Hùng reassured her, saying, "The pandemic is very intense. Even senior officers haven’t been able to go home for months. We can’t let our personal issues affect the bigger picture."

Just before calling his family in Phú Thọ and Yến’s family in Bát Xát to postpone the wedding, Hùng felt conflicted. Everything had been prepared—the wedding rings bought, the photos taken, and both families had planned a feast with 50-70 dishes for the guests.

However, due to the pandemic, hosting a large event was not only a health risk but also went against the orders from his superiors, especially for a soldier who should set a good example. Fortunately, both families agreed with the couple’s decision to delay the wedding.

"Our elders keep calling, urging me to stay healthy and finish my duty so we can have children later," Hùng smiled and whispered. He added, "On April 28, I’ll ask my commander for a few hours off to run to the local government office and register our marriage. That will make us husband and wife. As for the ceremony, I told her, 'After the mission, I’ll come back and marry you!'"

The story of soldier Nguyễn Huy Hoàng, who serves with the 29th Regiment, 307th Infantry Division (stationed in Phổ Phong, Đức Phổ District, Quảng Ngãi), has deeply moved many people. Hoàng’s mother passed away, and the circumstances surrounding her death have touched the hearts of all those around him.

Captain Nguyễn Hữu Thi, the political officer of 8th Battalion in the 29th Regiment, shared that a memorial altar was set up in a room at their unit with a photo of Hoàng’s mother so that he could pay his respects from afar.

“On the evening of May 16, Hoàng received the tragic news that his mother had passed away. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Hoàng being in the midst of a new recruit training course, he could not return home to mourn her. To help him through the grief, his comrades took turns comforting him, and they decided to set up the altar so Hoàng could honor his mother one last time,” Captain Thi explained.

Captain Thi also mentioned that Hoàng was born and raised in Diên An, Diên Khánh District, Khánh Hòa Province. He is the older of two brothers.

Putting aside his personal sorrow for the greater good, Hoàng shared his pain: For many years, his parents worked hard as construction workers to provide for him and his younger brother, who is 9 years old. Unfortunately, tragedy struck their family in 2015 when Hoàng’s mother, Lê Thị Hồng L., was severely injured in a work accident, rendering her unable to continue working. The family faced another blow in 2020 when Hoàng’s mother was diagnosed with a serious illness and required chemotherapy.

“The night before she passed, I received the news that my mother’s condition had worsened. The unit leadership allowed me to make a video call with her, but she could no longer speak. I just hope the pandemic ends soon so I can return home to pay my respects. I’m also thankful to my fellow soldiers for letting me light incense at the unit,” Hoàng said, his voice full of emotion.

This is the story of nurse Nguyễn Việt Anh (Pediatric Department – Bạch Mai Hospital). When his daughter was just 6 months old, the young 9x nurse found himself at the frontline of the epidemic, accompanying the field hospital No. 2 for almost a month.

Reflecting on his journey, Việt Anh recalls the early days of his marriage, which coincided with some of the most intense moments of his career.

On March 28, 2020, as Bạch Mai Hospital went into lockdown, Việt Anh had just spent a month with his wife. Without hesitation, he volunteered to enter the quarantine zone, even though his wife had just received good news. “At the time, my wife was crying hard, but both of our parents encouraged me to continue with the profession I had chosen, knowing my wife was supported at home by family,” Việt Anh recalls.

In January 2021, the COVID-19 outbreak in Hải Dương escalated, and pediatric patients at Field Hospital No. 2 began to surge. As a result, the leadership at Bạch Mai called for additional pediatric staff to help, and Việt Anh again volunteered, saying, “If Hải Dương needs help, I’m always ready to go!”

Reflecting on his departure for the epidemic zone, Việt Anh says: “At 2 PM on February 5, I received the order to prepare. By 3 PM, I was on a bus heading for Hải Dương. I only had time to say goodbye to my parents and my wife. I told her, ‘I don’t know when I’ll be back, take care of our daughter.’ And with that, my wife broke down in tears.”

Both sets of parents encouraged him to stay strong, but in their hearts, they were deeply worried for the young family, especially since Việt Anh’s daughter was still under 6 months old.

As a pediatric nurse, Việt Anh typically dedicated all his time to caring for his child whenever he returned home. He even jokingly claimed to be better at taking care of their daughter than his wife when it came to feeding, changing diapers, and bathing her. Despite his strong attachment to his child, when he left for Hải Dương, after just two days of video calls, his daughter no longer recognized him. By the third day, she had turned away, no longer wanting to talk to him.

“I always joked around with my colleagues, hoping the pandemic would end soon so I could return. But my wife, for the first two days, was so stressed she didn’t even talk to me, just called to look at our daughter. Even our first wedding anniversary passed, and we couldn’t meet each other,” Việt Anh shared with emotion.

Though he missed his wife and daughter terribly, Việt Anh never wavered from his duty during the epidemic. At Field Hospital No. 2, one of the most challenging tasks was taking blood samples from pediatric patients. The protective gear, especially the N95 mask and goggles, made it even harder to see or work efficiently. “Sometimes, I had to rely on anatomical landmarks because I couldn’t see clearly. The N95 mask fogged up my goggles, and I had to wear an additional face shield. After a few days, I got used to it, and now I’m responsible for all the blood draws and laboratory samples for pediatric patients,” he said.

Vietnam’s fight against COVID-19 has required special efforts in treating pediatric patients. Unlike adults, children cannot be asked to turn away during blood draws, and their crying only adds to the challenge. Despite these difficulties, Việt Anh remained steadfast, saying, “If I’m scared, no one else will do it. I have to ensure my own safety so I can do my job properly.”

His efforts paid off: five pediatric patients recovered, including the youngest pediatric COVID patient in Vietnam – K.C., which brought great joy to the medical team. K.C.’s mother sent a message of gratitude, saying that despite all the protective gear, the children recognized the team and greeted them warmly, no longer scared during checkups.

“It’s been double the effort,” Việt Anh said after almost a month in the epidemic zone. “A unique challenge of pediatric care is that when children are admitted, they must be accompanied by an adult, like a mother or father, or a grandparent. If no one can care for them at home, then we have to double our efforts. Even when visiting a patient, we have to stay updated on the health status of their family members.”

The battle against COVID-19 continues, and the day Việt Anh will return to his wife and daughter is still unknown. Despite this, he and his medical team keep fighting with all their strength to care for the patients. His wife reassures him from home, saying, “You just focus on your work. I’ll take care of our daughter. Whenever everything is stable, you can come back to us.”

When news broke that many new Covid-19 cases had been recorded in Hải Dương, Nurse Bạch Văn Hoàn immediately thought that if the situation worsened, a field hospital would likely need to be set up.

As anticipated, on the morning of January 29th, Hoàn and his team at Bạch Mai Hospital received orders to head to Hải Dương and set up a medical facility.

By 7 AM, the team arrived at the Hải Dương University of Medical Technology Hospital, and at that point, the field hospital setup was nearly non-existent. Everyone immediately began working non-stop to prepare the facility to admit patients as soon as possible.

By 3 PM, the first 24 Covid-19 patients were admitted.

Without resting, Hoàn and the team quickly set up an emergency intensive care unit on the fifth floor of the hospital. The room was empty and covered in dust, but they worked tirelessly to clean, sanitize, and equip it for use as soon as possible.

After just one day, the ICU was operational. Two days later, a critically ill patient required immediate blood dialysis, but none of the team members were trained in this procedure. At midnight, Hoàn traveled back to the main hospital to perform the dialysis, monitoring the patient’s condition until 9 AM when their health stabilized, allowing Hoàn a brief moment to rest.

The following days saw an influx of severe cases, and despite the lack of rest, the team continued to perform dialysis and ventilation support for patients. Emergency calls came in at all hours, and Hoàn would often respond, assisting in life-saving procedures.

On February 20th, the field hospital received a patient, H., transferred from Kinh Môn district. X-rays showed severe lung damage, and the team immediately began life-saving procedures including dialysis and mechanical ventilation.

Hoàn recalls that night: “At midnight, I got the call about patient H. showing signs of respiratory failure. My team and I immediately went to the hospital to perform dialysis and set up the ventilator. By around 3 AM, the patient’s condition stabilized. I stayed awake to monitor their vital signs until noon the next day.”

By midday, Hoàn had only managed a quick bite before heading back to the hospital to continue monitoring the patient. Most of the medical staff had never encountered such severe cases of Covid-19 before, and due to the lack of specialists in critical care, the Bạch Mai team had to provide continuous monitoring and support.

Fortunately, after three days, the patient made a remarkable recovery, showing great improvement and no longer requiring dialysis or mechanical ventilation. Hoàn and his team were overjoyed to see the patient able to stand and walk, even though their health was still fragile.

Despite the exhausting and intense environment of treating Covid-19 patients, Hoàn and his team remained committed to their mission, determined to prevent any patient from passing away. “We’ve gained a lot of experience in treating Covid-19 patients, especially after our month-long deployment to Da Nang during the earlier wave. Though there were moments of worry, we gave it our all, not afraid of the challenges, and always kept a positive mindset,” said Hoàn.

Reflecting on his personal experience, Hoàn shared: “Before heading into Da Nang during the peak of the pandemic, I called my dad but didn’t dare call my mom, fearing it would make her anxious. However, shortly after, she called me, worried about my safety. I reassured her, telling her not to worry. I told her, ‘As young and healthy as I am, I’m not afraid of the disease. You and dad stay home and take care of yourselves.’”

During his deployment to Hải Dương, Hoàn was uncertain whether he would be able to return home for Tết. Before leaving, he didn’t dare call his parents, but once he arrived at his destination, he called them to inform them of his whereabouts. “My dad encouraged me to focus on my mission, telling me not to worry about them. It gave me peace of mind to continue my work,” Hoàn recalled.

Hoàn also shared how this would be his first Tết away from home. “Just before Tết, my dad called to ask if I would be home for the holiday. I explained that, due to the ongoing pandemic in Hải Dương, I probably wouldn’t make it. My sister, who lives far away, would be spending Tết with her husband, and it would just be my parents celebrating alone. I was sad, but I knew I had to stay focused on my work. I called my sister and told her to bring the kids to visit our parents so they wouldn’t be lonely,” Hoàn said.

The family of Vietnamese Heroic Mother Lê Thị Chi (91 years old, residing in Thanh Bình Ward, Hải Châu District, Da Nang) was preparing a meal for their ancestors during the historical April days. As the family gathered around the altar, Mother Chi explained that due to her old age, and the ongoing complications of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing measures, she couldn’t hold the annual memorial service for her two fallen loved ones — her husband and son — on April 30th as usual. However, this year, she found new purpose by contributing to the fight against the 'Virus' in Da Nang.

On March 25th, Mother Chi carefully wrapped 5 million VND, a sum she had saved over time, and asked her youngest daughter, Trần Thị Thu (54 years old), to donate it through the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Thanh Bình Ward to the Hải Châu District Medical Center, specifically to help purchase additional medical masks for the frontline healthcare workers battling the pandemic.

Originally from Thăng Bình (Quảng Nam), Mother Chi lost her husband and first son to the sacred cause of fighting for the country during the American War. Despite the immense grief, she stayed strong, helping transport supplies and hide soldiers, often risking her life. She was captured by the enemy several times and tortured brutally, leaving her health severely compromised. Nevertheless, she persevered, raising her surviving children on her own. Now, in her old age, she had hoped for a peaceful life supported by her children, but that peace was elusive.

Seeing her youngest daughter’s financial difficulties, and with a grandchild suffering from epilepsy, Mother Chi moved from Quảng Nam to Da Nang to help her family. Her daughter’s earnings from her job were minimal, so the family relied heavily on the government allowance provided to Mother Chi.

Yet, on the evening of March 24th, after watching the news about the worsening COVID-19 situation in Vietnam and hearing the call for donations from the Da Nang City authorities, Mother Chi decided to contribute. She opened a drawer, carefully retrieved a cloth pouch containing her savings, along with some money given to her by family during the recent Lunar New Year, and said, 'When I was in need, the government cared for me. Now that I am able, I want to give back. I hope everyone can overcome this difficult time.'