Here, 17 Vietnamese people from all walks of life share how COVID-19 has affected their businesses and personal lives<\/strong>, and how they are coping.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s definitely a significant drop in customers, as my main clientele are office workers in Ham Nghi and Ngo Van Nam areas. Ever since their companies let them work from home, my revenue took a slight downturn.<\/p>\n “However, I can still manage my income by selling coffee powder<\/strong> to those who\u2019ll be working from home and crave my signature coffee. Each box of coffee powder weighs 500G. The more coffee powder they need, the more I ship to their homes. Besides, I\u2019ll still sell coffee on the street, but I will bring fewer ingredients to make sure that my coffee is still sold out and I don\u2019t end up with excess inventory. Now is the time to be more resourceful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s no denying that the real estate market is hit hard by COVID-19<\/strong>. We prepared for new launches in Quarter 1 and Quarter 2, but our plans all fell apart. Developers have postponed new launches, while agents can\u2019t get prospects to view properties.<\/p>\n “The supply of new properties, at this point, is zero. Not only are we seeing a significant drop in tenants due to the new ban of entry on foreigners, but landlords are also reluctant to rent out their properties. If one person is found to have COVID-19, there\u2019s a high possibility the whole building will be under quarantine. Nobody wants to take that risk.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI use Zoom to teach my students from home and there are some obstacles. In order to not let my students feel bored, I only host online classes once a week and teach them in groups<\/strong>. Each group has only 15 students. My method is to send my students study materials so they can study in advance, then we will discuss and resolve questions together in our online lessons.<\/p>\n “Students who are preparing for the upcoming HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi<\/em>, or Chinese Proficiency Test) are more willing to study online more regularly and intensively.\u201d<\/p>\n “My students and I live in the highlands, so there\u2019s a big problem with online studying for them. Most of my students are in primary school, and their parents are always busy with farm work. You can\u2019t expect them to be tech-savvy <\/strong>and monitor their children\u2019s progress on the computer or phone. My online lessons always end up with disruptions.<\/p>\n “Besides, it\u2019s very difficult to communicate with students via a computer screen. However, I try not to let my students give up on learning English by giving them homework and texting them regularly about their studies.”<\/p>\n “I do not have any difficulties adjusting to online classes. It works for me.<\/strong> The only problem is that if the WiFi is weak, my lessons will be disrupted.”<\/p>\n “For mainstream modules like Math and Literature, I do homework given by the teachers. Other than that, I shift my focus and time to studying foreign languages.”<\/p>\n “I graduated from Saigon University in October 2019. After graduation, I worked at an English center for a short time before the outbreak of COVID-19 happened and the center got shut down. I\u2019m looking for administrative jobs, but most companies are not recruiting at the moment<\/strong>, which is understandable.<\/p>\n “To earn income during this period, I\u2019m tutoring a couple of students online. I\u2019m normally an indoor person and not into hanging out much, so my personal life is not that affected by COVID-19. In my free time, I read and learn how to cook.”<\/p>\n “There\u2019s a downturn in the number of customers.<\/strong> However, it\u2019s understandable and we\u2019re taking measures to protect our staff and customers. Customers must go through a temperature check at the car park basement and again at our clinic, with the assistance of our trained nurses. We will observe their medical symptoms and ask if they have traveled to high-risk areas. We need to make sure that our clinic is safe,” said Greg, the founder of The Grace Skincare Clinic.<\/p>\n “If a customer doesn\u2019t meet our safety criteria, we will have to direct them to outside medical help. Our office environment must always be disinfected regularly and free from harmful germs.\u201d<\/p>\n “My business started to take a big hit by the end of February. Cleaning up the house after my guests checked out<\/strong> was a bit scary, as I wasn\u2019t sure about the health conditions of my guests at that time. That was before Vietnam\u2019s government banned entry for foreigners.<\/p>\n “For those who are in this business, I think now is a good time to pull the plug. Otherwise, you must try to reduce your monthly fixed costs. The most viable alternative for the moment is to switch to long-term leasing – renting out your facilities to people on a long-term basis. By doing this, you can still earn a stable income off your property.”<\/p>\n “Running online businesses can be flexible. For the past few weeks, I\u2019ve been seeing a constant demand for hand sanitizer and masks<\/strong>, so I decided to import more of these products. There are days when I don\u2019t have enough masks to ship to customers. I can only buy up to 50 to 100 small boxes of masks to ship to customers each time.<\/p>\n “There\u2019s no denying that fabric masks are more economical, but medical masks are still in higher demand because they are able to filter 95% of bacteria and dust. The only problem is that the prices for medical masks have surged wildly, from VND50,000- VND70,000(~USD2.15-USD3.01) <\/strong>to VND250,000-VND350,000(~USD10.73-USD15.03) <\/strong>these days.”<\/p>\n “My child is only a few months old, so I\u2019m not affected much. However, it\u2019s depressing not being able to take her out for some fresh air during weekends<\/strong>, due to the escalation of COVID-19. Besides, our family runs a department store and we live right upstairs. It\u2019s a bit scary seeing many people flocking to our store everyday, and we can\u2019t do temperature checks on them at the entrance.<\/p>\n “I\u2019m also worried about my husband. He\u2019s a government official working in Hanoi, which is now a hotbed of COVID-19 transmission. He only comes home to Hai Phong to visit us on weekends.”<\/p>\n “The Australian government has discouraged people from attending events with more than 500 people, so most of my shows are cancelled<\/strong>. I\u2019m not performing until June.<\/p>\n “My life in Perth is quite normal. There\u2019s no significant disruption, and that\u2019s also the message that the government is trying to send. Only people who are not feeling well are advised to stay home. Restaurants and bars have also reduced the number of indoor guests to no more than 100. Even priests are also hosting masses online.”<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t see real estate companies recruiting in the near future<\/strong>, not until the market has fully recovered. Those doing administrative work can work from home, but it is not easy.<\/p>\n “If there are documents that we need to revise before proceeding, we\u2019ll have to run to the office. It\u2019s also sad that I can\u2019t hit any wellness classes these days. I have to read to kill time.”<\/p>\n “My classes started seeing a significant drop in attendance after Lunar New Year. The management board of the youth center where my dance studio is located recently told us to stop holding classes until further notice.<\/p>\n “I applied for reduced rental costs from the center. They have been supporting me for the past month. However, when this tough time blows over and we can operate our classes again, I\u2019ll continue applying for financial support since our activities will not recover immediately.”<\/p>\n “I\u2019m currently working from home as per my company\u2019s new rules. Manila is imposing curfews<\/a>, so I can\u2019t go out at certain times of the day. That\u2019s why I stocked up basic necessities for the whole month. If I need to buy fresh produce, I resort to online grocery shopping apps for delivery. Social distancing measures are also strictly imposed in public spaces here, as we need to maintain a gap of one or two meters to prevent exposure.<\/p>\n “Filipinos are very nice. I don\u2019t experience any sort of discrimination here even though I look more East Asian than most locals. I\u2019m doing fine in the Philippines and I don\u2019t see any need to go back to Vietnam at this point.”<\/p>\n “People have this idea that these days, Grab, Go-Viet, Be, or BAEMIN are earning the most due to increased delivery orders as people are afraid of going out. That\u2019s not true. I think most ride-hailing companies are seeing a significant decrease in customers. People no longer travel often these days. Also, the demand for food delivery does not surge as much as you\u2019d think. People can\u2019t eat pizza or fried chicken every day.<\/strong><\/p>\n “A majority of people are shifting to hoarding groceries and fresh produce these days as quarantine is a long-term thing, so online grocery stores or marts with delivery service are performing better.”<\/p>\n “<\/em>Most of my wholesale customers are schools and English centers. But these establishments have shut down as students are advised to study from home. English centers can\u2019t afford to pay their teachers, so how can you expect them to invest in stationery?<\/p>\n “My total revenue is down by one-third, but I notice that there is a surge in demand for learning and educational toys, such as coloring books and children\u2019s story books. Most parents don\u2019t want their children to get hooked on iPads and TV, so they order more of these items to help their children study from home. I\u2019m supporting my customers by offering free shipping for local orders above VND300,000 (~USD12.87).<\/strong>”<\/p>\n “The number of customers visiting bank branches is plummeting. They are afraid of going out because bank offices are usually crowded with different types of people. For this reason, our businesses are taking a downturn in the areas of credit card opening, overseas property investments, and insurance.”<\/p>\n Almost every industry in Vietnam is taking a hit from the COVID-19 outbreak. However, we can still be resourceful and creative to keep serving our communities while keeping our employees, customers, and ourselves safe by heeding the government\u2019s instructions.<\/p>\n For the latest news about coronavirus in Vietnam, check out our articles here:<\/p>\n Cover image adapted from: Hollie Tran<\/a>, To Yen Linh<\/a>,\u00a0 and Mai Hanh<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Enjoying The Smart Local Vietnam? Follow us on Facebook<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0LinkedIn<\/a> for more stories like this. If you have a story to share, email us at pressvn@thesmartlocal.com.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Here, 17 Vietnamese people from all walks of life share how COVID-19 has affected their businesses and personal life, and how they are coping.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":642,"featured_media":123463,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[386],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-1077","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-perspectives","tag-covid-19-vietnam"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n1. Street vendor – time to be resourceful<\/h3>\n
\n![\"coffee](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Luc-cafe.jpg\")
\nLuc Nguyen, a street coffee vendor on the street of Ham Nghi in Ho Chi Minh City
\n<\/em>Image credit: L\u1ef1c Nguy\u1ec5n<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n
\n2. Real estate agent – no new properties in sight<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Real](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Real-estate-agent.jpg\")
\nJoy Nguyen, a real estate agent in Ho Chi Minh City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Huong Vinh<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n3. High school teacher – only 1 online lesson per week<\/h3>\n
\n![\"High](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/90513950_1016879525373546_8710358272319684608_n.jpg\")
\nThuy To (in the center), a Chinese language teacher at Tr\u1ea7n Ph\u00fa high school in Hai Phong City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>To Yen Linh<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n4. Supplementary English class teacher – big problems with online studying<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Supplementary](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/90300871_1102974650047991_3125031746601484288_n.jpg\")
\nThao Vi, an English teacher at Magic English Center in \u0110\u1eafk L\u1eafk Province
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Vi Thu Thao<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n5. High school student – no problem adjusting to online study<\/h3>\n
\n![\"high](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/90766419_633321060783716_5680298350100873216_n.jpg\")
\nLinh Nguyen, 16, an English major at Tr\u1ea7n Ph\u00fa high school in Hai Phong City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Nguy\u1ec5n V\u00e2n Linh<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n6. Fresh graduate – unable to find a job<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Fresh](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/fresh-graduate.jpg\")
\nTam Nguyen (left), a fresh graduate from Saigon University in Ho Chi Minh City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Nguy\u1ec5n Ho\u00e0ng Thanh T\u00e2m<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n7. Clinic staff – multiple protection measures in the clinic<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Grace](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Grace-clinic.jpg\")
\nGreg (second from left) and the staff at Grace Skincare Clinic – Ph\u00f2ng kh\u00e1m da Grace in Ho Chi Minh City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Grace Skincare Clinic – Ph\u00f2ng kh\u00e1m da Grace<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n8. Property host – time to reduce fixed costs or switch to long-term rental<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Air](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/90348398_612031732677368_4071573763328573440_n.jpg\")
\nDieu Anh Dao, a Airbnb superhost in the Old Quarters, Hanoi
\nImage credit: <\/em>Dieu Anh Dao<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\n9. Online business owner – high demand for medical masks and hand sanitizers<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Thanh](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Thanh-online.jpg\")
\nThanh Nguyen, an online cosmetic business owner in Hanoi
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Thanh Nguy\u1ec5n<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\n10. Housewife – being cooped up is depressing<\/h3>\n
\n![\"young](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Bui-My-Hung.jpg\")
\nH\u01b0\u01a1ng B\u00f9i, 24, a young mom in Hai Phong City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>B\u00f9i M\u1ef9 H\u01b0\u01a1ng<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n11. Vietnamese singer and model working in Australia- shows cancelled<\/h3>\n
\n![\"singer\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/hollie-tran-singer-2.jpg\")
\nHollie Tran, a Vietnamese singer and model living in Perth, Australia
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Hollie Tran<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n12. Human resource professional – most companies will not recruit in the foreseeable future<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Nguyet](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/90351461_210300993394680_5179809706633330688_n.png\")
\nNguyet, a recruiter at a real estate agency in Ho Chi Minh City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Nh\u01b0 Nguy\u1ec7t<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\n13. Dancer and wellness teacher – classes shut down as per regulations<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Dancer\"](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/mai-hanh-dancer.jpg\")
\nMai Hanh, a dancer cum dancesport teacher at Dance Passion in Ho Chi Minh City
\nImage credit: <\/em>Mai Hanh<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n14. Office executive – working from home, stocking supplies for the whole month<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Brian](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Minh-brian.jpg\")
\nBrian Pham, a Vietnamese visa & passport executive working in Manila in the Philippines
\nImage credit: <\/em>Brian Pham<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\n15. Ride-hailing app company worker – food delivery is not doing that well<\/h3>\n
\n![\"call](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Han-le-call-center.jpg\")
\nHan Nguyen, working at the call center department in a ride-hailing company in Ho Chi Minh City
\n<\/em>Image credit: H\u00e2n L\u00ea<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
\n16. Stationery store owner – total revenue down, surge in demand for educational toys<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Sandy](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/90780050_655676651886278_1729343533485129728_n.jpg\")
\nSandy Pham, owner of Sandy store selling stationery in Da Nang City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Ph\u1ea1m Kim Kh\u00e1nh<\/em><\/a>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n
\n17.\u00a0 Banker – customers are afraid of visiting banks<\/h3>\n
\n![\"Banker](\"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/90657161_3258858647477810_4902021130417602560_n.jpg\")
\nGia Lam, senior relationship manager at VPBANK in Ho Chi Minh City
\n<\/em>Image credit: <\/em>Gia L\u00e2m<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n
\nBe resourceful amid COVID-19<\/h3>\n
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