Today marks the one-year anniversary of the first COVID-19 case in Viet Nam. On 23 January, 2020, a man visiting from China tested positive for coronavirus. Since then all our lives have been turned upside down as the pandemic spread to all corners of the globe. But despite global upheaval, Việt Nam has been praised for the way it has handled this deadly plague.

The otherwise busy Ta Hien Street in Ha Noi became quiet in March last year, when a nationwide lockdown order was imposed. — VNS Photo

As of 22 January, the country has seen a total of 1,548 cases with just 35 proving fatal, while 1,411 have recovered. The country has undergone 52 days without a case of COVID-19 community transmission.

Viet Nam News takes a look back at the key events of the past 12 months since that very first case was recorded, and the tremendous efforts made by the authorities, medical staff and security forces, as well as the entire nation, to contain COVID-19.

23 January, 2020: The first case of COVID-19 is reported after a 66-year-old Chinese man came from Wuhan to Viet Nam to visit his son. He and his son were then treated at Chợ Rẫy Hospital, HCM City.

February 13, 2020: Son Loi Commune, Bình Xuyen District in Vinh Phuc Province is locked down after six cases were discovered there.

6 March, 2020: Patient 17 tests positive for coronavirus after coming back from Europe, marking a second wave of COVID-19 cases.

18 March, 2020: Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc orders a halt to issuing new visas for foreigners to Viet Nam and limited flights from pandemic zones.

25 March, 2020: Viet Nam suspends all international flights to contain the spread of COVID-19.

28 March, 2020: Bach Mai hospital is locked down after many cases related to the hospital were reported. Bach Mai hospital becomes the virus epicentre of Ha Noi.

1 April, 2020: A social distancing order is implemented nationwide.

12 April, 2020: Bạch Mai Hospital reopens after 14 days of quarantine.

23 April, 2020: The social distancing order is lifted in most areas of the country except for some high-risk zones.

27 May, 2020: British pilot Stephen Cameron, Viet Nam's sickest COVID-19 case, shows signs of recovery.

11 July, 2020: Pilot Stephen Cameron flies back to the UK.

25 July, 2020: The first COVID-19 case is reported in Đà Nẵng City.           

28 July, 2020: All of Da Nang City is locked down.

4 August, 2020: Army disinfects Da Nang City’s Son Tra District.

13 August, 2020: Domestic flights take stranded tourists back from Da Nang.

10 September, 2020: A baby is born to a mother with COVID-19.

11 September, 2020: Da Nang loosens social distancing orders.

30 November, 2020: HCM City announces the first case of COVID-19 after 100 days.

10 December, 2020: Call for registration for human trials of a COVID-19 vaccine.

17 December, 2020: First dose of the vaccine is administered.

26 December, 2020: Vĩnh Long Province reports a man who entered Viet Nam illegally tests positive for COVID-19.

2 January, 2021: New highly more transmissible variant of coronavirus first reported in HCM City after a woman is repatriated from the UK.

 Source: VNS