The heroic city’s traditions of unity, dynamism and creativity and the joint efforts of the nation have created a strength to help Vietnam’s economic engine continue moving forward.
Safe and flexible adaptation
Before the pandemic, 70-year-old Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh walked up and down five flights of stairs every day to work as a Party Secretary of a local neighbourhood in District 5. She said “When I contracted COVID-19, I felt weaker but I cannot stop going because the people needed me.”
The happier she is at the city’s recovery, the more cautious she is in reminding the people to follow mask-wearing and social distancing rules. Whenever there is a COVID-19 case in her neighbourhood, Oanh quickly contacts the local medical centre so that health workers can visit the patient and distribute medicines.
Optimism could be seen clearly on the face of Le Viet Hai, Chairman of the Hoa Binh Construction Group, who shared that his company’s contract value in 2021 exceeded the target by 14.6%, which was thanks to recovery efforts following the removal of social distancing measures.
Tourism was the sector with the most active and earliest return when Ho Chi Minh City entered the phase of “new normal”. Director of Communications and Marketing at TST Tourist Nguyen Minh Man said that the company quickly got down to surveying new tours to create attractive destinations within the city right after the plans for economic recovery were announced. He stated that it is the company’s new direction on the path of recovery, in addition to surveying safe tours to “green zones” in other provinces and cities.
The aftershocks of the pandemic are not yet over but such stories partly show the mood of Ho Chi Minh City residents and businesses. Living more slowly and deeply and caring for not just one’s own family and business but also the community are the source of the city’s strong vitality.
Efforts to control pandemic
Whether Ho Chi Minh City can revive its economy largely depends on the local coronavirus situation. At a conference in October 2021, municipal Party Secretary Nguyen Van Nen emphasised that fighting the pandemic remains the city’s top priority for the coming period. Only when the pandemic is well controlled can the city rise up to realise the set socio-economic targets.
According to Ho Chi Minh City’s Director of Health Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, the city has outlined four scenarios on dealing with the pandemic in the new situation so as to proactively keep COVID-19 in check as the city begins to reopen. He stated that with the current staff and infrastructure, Ho Chi Minh City can take care of about 120,000 patients at the same time.
There is more good news for municipal residents as the Ho Chi Minh City National University has established the Research Centre for Infectious Diseases. The centre will focus on studying opportunistic infection, which worsens the symptoms of COVID-19 patients. The centre will provide a better understanding of such pathogens in Vietnam and propose appropriate coping measures.
Confidence to rise up
Positive changes in Ho Chi Minh City’s economy have started coming in two months after social distancing measures were relaxed. Most enterprises at processing-export, industrial and high-tech parks have resumed their operations, which clearly demonstrates Ho Chi Minh City people and enterprises’ spirit to overcome difficulties, dare to think, and dare to do.
For the entrepreneur Le Viet Hai, what he found most satisfying is the value of identifying a way out amid the COVID-19 storm. In the face of unprecedented challenges, Hoa Binh Construction Group quickly restructured its management system, business model, human resources, finances, products and services.
Many economic experts stated that despite the severe impacts of COVID-19, Ho Chi Minh City still has a firm foundation for growth in the future. Former Ho Chi Minh City Party Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan said that if the city is compared to a train, then after the pandemic, the train still retains its engine and coaches, the tracks, the driver, coach heads, and 94% of its staff.
Because the train did not run for four months so it lacks money to buy fuel and pay for workers. If there are loans to buy fuel and pay wages for three months, the train can restart immediately and money from selling tickets will be used to cover the debts.
The most important among the factors that will help with Ho Chi Minh City’s economic recovery are the spirit to rise up, the creativity of the city’s people, sci-tech circles and business circles, and the entire nation’s support.
Ho Chi Minh City Chairman Phan Van Mai confidently stated that the city is determined to not only retain its status as Vietnam’s top economic driver but also strive to build the city into an economic and financial centre of Asia, with sustainable development and a high standard of living. The city is looking to raise its income per capita to 8,500 USD by 2025, 13,000 USD by 2030, and 37,000 by 2045.
The COVID-19 pandemic remains unpredictable to the whole world. But recovering after undergoing days of treatment, Ho Chi Minh City has been emboldened so that it can weather all difficulties with great pride.
With spring coming, Oanh and her neighbourhood are preparing for a Tet filled with love. Many neighbourhoods and enterprises across the city are also making contributions to create a warm Tet of hope.
