Many foreign ex-pats who are living and working in Da Nang have received a lot of sincere sharing, love and help from the local government and people, especially in the two years 2020 and 2021 with the complicated developments of COVID-19. Thanks to this, many of them have considered Da Nang as their second home.

Despite facing many pandemic-triggered difficulties, Mr. Kikuchi (first right) has made great efforts to maintain the restaurant's business stability. Photo: THU HA

Empathy and sharing

“Da Nang people are very friendly and always willing to give me a helping hand as I am in trouble”.

Those are sharing words made by Mr. Simon Michael Hyde from the UK who is living in Nai Hien Dong Ward, Son Tra District.

"I have been living in Da Nang for more than 8 years. Local people are very wonderful. Residents on my street are so fantastic and very supportive for me in tough times, especially during the city's social distancing period” said he.

In mid-2021, strict social distancing measures were put in place in Nai Hien Dong Ward as the city government's efforts to control the COVID-19 outbreak.

Mr. Simon recalled "When the whole ward was locked down, people were advised against going outside if not necessary. This time, we were gradually adapting to working from home".

He also praised the city government for their great efforts in preventing and controlling the pandemic over the past 2 years.

"Perhaps, my most memorable memory during the social distance period was that we got tested for COVID-19 every few days. We all got up about 7:00am, trooped to the local public park, stood in line and had nasal swab samples taken for COVID-19 testing. That's a really strange experience to go and be vaccinated on such a large scale" recalled Mr. Simon.

He also expressed his astonishment over the city's mass vaccination campaign. As an ex-pat in Da Nang, he has also received 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccines.

Similarly, Mr. Dane Schaefer, a citizen of South Africa is living in Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, highly appreciated Da Nang's pandemic prevention and control work.

In the days of implementing the city's 'stay-at-home' order, he always obeyed the city's COVID-19 prevention rules. He said that, during that period, he had no problem with food or other essentials because he received enthusiastic support from the leader of his residential group.

“I got a small allowance from the city and also rental fee reduction from my landlord, so I feel like a local here” he said.

Opening up new opportunities

In addition to producing negative effects on business activities, the ongoing COVID-19 has opened up new opportunities for some foreigners who are doing business in the city.

Victor Ceano Savall, the founder cum chef of the Savall Chocolate Company based in Son Tra District, is a typical example.

The Spanish man fell in love with the city at the first sight and has considered Da Nang to be his second home. He opened a candy and chocolate company called ‘Pop Kẹo’ in Da Nang in 2016.

Victor Ceano Savall (first right) who has been settled in Da Nang for 8 years has considered the city to be his second home. IN THE PHOTO: Victor teaching his students to make chocolate. Photo: THU HA

"In the first years of business, I named my company ‘Pop Kẹo’ because it sounds Vietnamese and we wanted to drag more Vietnamese teenagers. However, in 2020, I decided to get back the name of my family 'Savall' because we realised that the Vietnamese prefered European names to Vietnamese ones" said Victor.

He expressed that during the period of social distancing, he received active support from the city government, such as being provided with travel permits to keep working, and being reduced rental fees by landlord.

“I felt fortunate to have very good neighbours who were willing to give me a helping hand in case of need. The leader of our residential group was really professional, and she made her effort to ensure that no family was lack of food during the social distancing period" added Victor.

The young man said COVID-19 has had a comprehensive and profound impact on all countries worldwide in all fields, but when it comes to Da Nang in particular and Viet Nam in general, the pandemic prevention and control work has been done seriously, rigorously and effectively.

Victor revealed before COVID-19, his products were mainly sold at hotels and events. However, in the context of the complicated developments of COVID-19, he started retailing his products to shops and customers. "This is good for us because then we don't depend on one single market and we have more markets instead" remarked he.

Despite the pandemic-triggered difficulties, Victor has done his utmost to connect and introduce the company's products to a number of countries globally such as Japan, and Hong Kong (China).

In years to come, he plans to continue to expand the consumption markets to big cities in Asia such as Bangkok and Singapore, as well as develop the hotel markets he did before. Also, he will connect with schools citywide to open more chocolate making classes for children.

Over the past year, a Japanese restaurant owned by Mr. Ryota Kikuchi from Japan has also encountered many difficulties due to the influence of COVID-19 but with 20 years of experience living and working in Da Nang, he has been able to step by step overcome pandemic-triggered challeges and maintain business stability.

Mr. Kikuchi shared, his restaurant specializing in Japanese dishes was opened on Duong Dinh Nghe Street, Son Tra District, in 2019. At that time, there was no COVID-19 and tourism was still developing, so his restaurant was crowded with customers every day.

As the COVID-19 outbreak occurred, his restaurant was temporarily shut down as per a request by the city government as an effort to curb the pandemic.

Now, in a new normal, his restaurant operates normally. Aside from dine-in services, his restaurant is offering takeaway and delivery services.

The restaurant is famous for Japanese-style dishes such as sushi, Ramen noodles, seafood, organic food, etc.

In 2021, he opened a high-class shrimp Ramen noodle restaurant on Thai Phien Street, Phuoc Ninh Ward, Hai Chau District, and a Table Produce shop that sells organic and safe vegetables, safe meat, and delicious Japanese quality products, on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hai Chau 1 Ward, Hai Chau District.

The opening of the new developments is also a way for him to consume the agricultural products of the farms he cooperated with before and also a way for him to maintain jobs for his employees.

COVID-19 has changed many things, but perhaps the feeling of foreigners towards Da Nang is still intact. That comes from the special care and active support from local authorities, and the friendliness and hospitality of locals, spent with them. And it is easy to understand why they choose Da Nang as their second home.

Reporting by THU HA, MAI DUNG – Translating by M.DUNG