The Covid-19 outbreak has seen examples of the very best of humanity in Da Nang. In the midst of this crisis, there have been a spike in spontaneous acts of kindness, generosity and empathy which we want to celebrate. Many individuals, organisations and businesses across Da Nang are offering their help and support to those who need it.

We’ve made a collection of some most heart-warming stories of the past few days.

Da Nang Lung Hospital's staff showing their appreciation for the ‘Ban Thuong Nhau’ Charity Club for their generous donations by making heart shaped gestures

Providing free rides for pregnant women to go to hospital for giving birth

A team of taxi drivers in the city has offered free rides to pregnant women to go to hospital for giving birth as all passenger road transport services have been suspended during the city’s social distancing period.

The free ride service has been initiated by Mr Tran Ngoc Vu, a resident of Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Hiep Nam Ward.

Mr Vu said he has become unemployed after Da Nang braced for a second wave of coronavirus infections in late July. Therefore, he wanted to do something meaningful instead of letting his time pass in vain.

After realising that many pregnant women couldn't find cars to take them to hospital when they fall into labour, Vu has established a group of taxi drivers to offer free rides to pregnant women.

His act of kindness has gone viral on social media, and it has inspired more drivers in both Da Nang and Quang Nam Province to join him for the free ride service.

Mr Vu’s team now has nearly 100 members. Since early August, the team has safely taken more than 70 pregnant women to hospital for giving birth.

The founder of the free ride service, Mr Vu said “Hospitals are thought to pose a very high risk of spreading the infection amid the coronavirus outbreak, so he and other his team members remind each other to take precautionary measures in their vehicles and at hospitals in a bid to prevent the spread of the virus”.

"We are willing to offer our help to those need it during the coronavirus crisis . We all feel happy when we know the mothers and their newborns are safe in hospital.” Mr Vu said.

After the city’s C hospital was placed under lockdown in late July, many residents across the city donated mattresses to the hospital’s medical staff.

Offering free trips to carry medical supplies and essentials to quarantine sites, hospitals and residential areas under lockdown

Members of the city’s Pickup Danang Club have used their own pickup trucks to carry medical supplies and essentials in case of an emergency.

The team members collect in-kind donations from generous individuals and organisations across Da Nang, and then deliver them to quarantine facilities, hospitals and residential areas under lockdown in both Da Nang and Quang Nam Province no matter what the weather is. 

The club members who are directors and business managers serving in various aspects are showing their willingness and readiness to support the city's efforts to tackle Covid-19.

After Da Nang introduced strict social distancing measures on 28 July, the ‘Ban Thuong Nhau’ Charity Club has raised nearly 500 million VND from generous philanthropists to provide essential supplies for those in need.

In particular, the club has donated surgical masks, personal protective suits and hand sanitizer gel to healthcare facilities and designated quarantine sites in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province.

Director of the Trung Vuong Theatre Quang Hao has donated 100 coronavirus protective suits to frontline medical workers in the city. In addition, 20 anti-drop caps and 60 coronavirus protective suits have been given to local reporters.

Apart from Da Nang, Director Hao has donated coronavirus protective suits, gloves and surgical masks to some healthcare facilities in Quang Nam Province.

Staff at the Cam Le District chapter of the Da Nang Labour Union giving boxes of instant noodles to poor and low-income earners in the locality to help them get through the pandemic

Providing help for immigrants

Many landlords in the city are offering a helping hand to their tenants who are immigrants by reducing their rental fees.

Mrs Nguyen Thi Xuan, a landlord owning a rental property in Lien Chieu District’s Hoa Khanh Bac Ward, has reduced rental fees by 30% for her tenants who are low-income earners and have lost their jobs due to Covid-19.

Also, Mrs Xuan has offered hand sanitizer gel to these people, and encouraged them to ensuring environmental sanitation in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

Mr Nguyen Thang, who is working in the Hoa Khanh Industrial Park and living in Mrs Xuan’s rental property, said “I was extremely grateful for the kindness of Mrs Xuan because my salary has been significantly reduced due to the impact of the pandemic”.

By TIEU YEN, TRONG HUNG, HUY HOANG - Translated by MAI DUNG