This is a tale of two wildly different responses to a pandemic. As a foreigner in Vietnam during the COVID-19 crisis, I feel so grateful and relieved to be here instead of in Europe. I try to show my appreciation by demonstrating to the locals that I am not an irresponsible “spreader” and that I take the danger very seriously. I have stopped all socializing, I always wear my mask outside and I strictly stay more than 2 metres away from others when I do have to leave my home. 

NDO – Kite flying is a popular childhood game for many Vietnamese people in rural areas. However, flying a kite with a flute attached to it is a century-old game that requires a lot of passion and knowledge from the players. Flute kites have been lifted from a pastime into part of the country’s cultural heritage. 

NDO – “Despite waves and storms, we the DK rig soldiers are still here. There is no fear among DK rig soldiers who are not afraid of thunderstorms.” The two verses of the song "Spring on DK rigs" describe part of the difficulties and hardships that soldiers on DK1 rigs face when performing the task of protecting and preserving the Fatherland’s sovereignty over its sea and islands. 

NDO – Living far from their hometowns, overseas Vietnamese in Vladikavkaz, the capital city of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, Russia, are always turn their hearts to the motherland whenever the nation’s traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) comes. 

NDO – Although living far from the homeland, without the real atmosphere and tastes of the cosy Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday at home, Vietnamese expatriates in the French city of Blois always look towards the homeland with their best sentiments and wishes for a happy new year. 

NDO – Many foreigners “migrated” to Hoi An with the intention staying on vacation for a few months to half a year; however, during their stay, some have formed good connections that made them stay in the ancient city longer than expected. 

NDO – Any Vietnamese people who have lived and worked abroad always turn their hearts to the motherland and want their descendants to learn the Vietnamese language. Acknowledging this aspiration, staff of the Vietnamese General Consulate in Ekaterinburg, the capital city of Russia ’s Sverglovsk province, have joined hands with Vietnamese people’s associations in the Ural mountainous region to open a Vietnamese language class for children from the Vietnamese community in the region. 

NDO – Rustic but delicious and delicate "Old Quarter braised fish", which contains many distinct culinary culture features, has becoming more and more popular among costumers, making it a famous dish under the brand of " Hanoi - 36 Old Streets”. 

NDO – Where a branch of the Mekong River named Hau Giang River pours in Vietnam, at the northwesternmost border of the Mekong Delta, Cham border villages around Bung Binh Thien Lake have gradually transformed themselves to match with the rhythm of the modern life. 

NDO – The chaos of lies sometimes make people think that the ‘soul’ of Hanoi has been lost; however, in reality, the capital city’s soul can be still recognised in the simple people, streets, houses and even rows of trees. 

NDO – In the memories of many Hanoians’ generation, Lo Ren street in Hoan Kiem District houses many forging furnaces. However, as time has gone by, the flames have gradually gone out inside the furnaces, leaving only one manually forging furnace still in operation. In his workshop, which is just 4 meters squared, Nguyen Phuong Hung is the last blacksmith who has ceaselessly worked to keep the traditional craft of the old street alive. 

NDO – Coming to the nation’s sacred outpost Truong Sa (Spratly archipelago), one of the simple and peaceful images impressive to strangers are island teachers enthusiastically drying shells on the sunny school steps to make toys and learning tools for local students. Weekends in the remote island are different from the mainland, as teachers and their students gather to study and play together like a small family. 

NDO –Lang Biang plateau is considered as a centre and point of origin for many major families of Co Ho ethnic minority people, such as Pangting, Bonyo and Krajan, who spread to many areas to establish villages. The highland of ‘red soil’ now has many new families, including those from different regions and countries who predestined to come to Lang Biang and then gradually merged into the cultural flow of this land. 

NDO - A writing system is the asset, culture and pride of every ethnic group. But for the Dao people on the outskirts of Hanoi, there is a fear that their ancient script is fading away from their cultural, religious and daily activities.