The list of Asian and European countries placing themselves into lockdown is growing due to the coronavirus pandemic showing no signs of abating. Hence, thousands of Vietnamese nationals from overseas have returned home to avoid the virus.

A healthcare worker implementing temperature screening of returnees in isolation at the Dong Nghe Training Centre

In Da Nang, hundreds of returnees have arrived in Da Nang International Airport since early March.

After implementing entry procedures and making health declaration with local health officials at the city’s airport, all returnees have been placed into isolation at designated sites in the city.

Till date, about 1,000 returnees from coronavirus-hit countries have been quarantined in the city.

Among 57 returnees from South Korea who were placed in quarantine at the Dong Nghe Training Centre in Hoa Vang District in late February was Nguyen Cao K.D He said that he felt very secure after returning to Viet Nam because most of the Vietnamese citizens in Asian and European countries have been on edge as it is becoming harder to protect themselves from the Covid-19 epidemic.

A female resident of Quang Nam Province returning from Thailand said that when the situation got worse in this country, she decided to come back to Viet Nam. She and her five friends arrived in Da Nang from Thailand on 21 March. Upon arrival, they were sent to the Centre for Training National Defense and Security Knowledge, located at 86 Nguyen Chanh in Lien Chieu District, for 14-day quarantine.

At the quarantine site, they are served with 3 nutritious and healthy meals every day, and they are required to have their temperature taken twice a day. Her quarantine period offers a pleasant surprise to her with devotion and dedication of healthcare workers and military personnel to their tasks.

Military personnel preparing meals for the returnees in isolation

Meanwhile, some Vietnamese students studying abroad refuse to return home as concerns over the global coronavirus pandemic continue to grow.

Hoang Tuyet Tran, a female resident of Da Nang, is a typical example. She is studying at the Paris XI University in France, and she chooses to stay in France instead of returning home amid growing concerns over coronavirus. She explained the reason is that she was afraid of high risk of getting infected on flights, and imposing additional pressures on Viet Nam's healthcare workers.

Meanwhile, graphic designer Phong Phan who is working in London said both staying in foreign countries and returning home may increase chances of getting the virus because the airports and the planes are very crowded with passengers. He noted the majority of new confirmed cases in Viet Nam have been reported in Vietnamese international student repatriates.

Phong Phan expressed his concerns that the country’s healthcare system would soon become overwhelmed if the number of cross-infections continues increasing.

Phan added returnees should feel lucky to be able to get home because many others all over the world are being stranded.

“We should believe that Viet Nam will be able to push back the pandemic, bring lives back to normal and recover production” Phan remarked

By XUAN SON - Translated by MAI DUNG