Many individuals and organisations across Da Nang are making donations to help the city fight against the coronavirus.

Mr Pham Thanh (2nd left) giving free face masks, food and water bottles, plus cash donations, to the charity kitchen of the Da Nang Hospital for Lung Diseases in February

Businessman Pham Thanh has established a charity fund called ‘For a Liveable City’ to support healthcare facilities and coronavirus isolation sites in the city.

As of 13 March, a total of 355 million VND had been raised for the fund from generous philanthropists both at home and abroad. Of this, 100 million VND was donated by Mr Thanh.

Mr Thanh said donations went to support efforts of frontline healthcare workers and staff in the Da Nang General Hospital, the Maternity and Paediatrics Hospital, the Hospital for Lung Diseases, the Police Hospital No 199, the municipal Centre for Disease Control, the Dong Nghe Training Centre, and more. Also, donations will be used to help disadvantaged people in the city.

Mr Thanh and his friends have donated face masks and antibacterial wipes to medical workers at public hospitals and coronavirus isolation site in the city.

Also, Thanh has donated 3,000 N95 respirators to frontline staff in the city.

Mrs Hong at her rice selling store

Meanwhile, Mrs Bui Thi Hong, an owner of a rice shop on Nguyen Luong Bang Street in Lien Chieu District, is urging customers to stop panic buying, and not to buy more than they need amid growing concerns over coronavirus-linked stockpiling.

Mrs Hong advising shoppers to stop panic buying and hoarding

To some people, Hong's act is quite strange. As panic buying has been rife amid the global spread of the new coronavirus, many shops and grocery stores are trying to sell as much as possible. Meanwhile, Mrs Hong advises customers to buy enough rice for their families to prevent stockpiling.

Mrs Hong said Viet Nam is a rice exporter, so there is no shortage of rice for all people. Therefore, she advises her customers to stop panic buying and hoarding.  She also commits to sell rice at stable prices, and her shop has adequate supply for all local residents.

In addition, Mrs Hong is offering free face masks to her customers in order to help protect themselves against coronavirus.

It is known that Mrs Hong is a former employee of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade. She often takes a part of her profits to do charity activities in the city.

By XUAN SON - Translated by MAI DUNG