In this interview, John Dewhirst, an expat in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam, he’s also the creator of ‘Vietnam Yo’ a popular Youtube channel for expat community in Vietnam will talk about how coronavirus has affected his life; how Vietnam has dealt with the coronavirus and the future of Vietnam.
How has coronavirus affected your life?
For me, when when not working, I like to stay inside, play video games, watch Netflix, surf the internet, go on YouTube.
The main affect of this coronavirus, was financially. I have businesses that weren’t able to start because of this.
I also have lost my income, as an English teacher, so I haven’t worked since January.
“As an English teacher, so I haven’t worked since January” @ John Dewhirst
How do you think Vietnam has done with the coronavirus?
Vietnam has done a fantastic job with the coronavirus. They prevented it from spreading, early. When everyone wasn’t taking the coronavirus very seriously, Vietnam was
Straight away, they closed the schools, Vietnamese government encouraged people to isolate. Restaurants, bars, coffee shops and karaoke bars closed!
Although the karaoke bars aren’t really the problem, it’s more on the street singing. That is the one good thing that has come from this coronavirus is no longer do I have to listen to really bad singing, with a microphone, in front of my house
Vietnam did a really good job in preventing this outbreak from being something catastrophic. Because Vietnam is really, really compact.
In Saigon especially, and in Hanoi. Everyone is on top of each other.
When you go to a high building in Vietnam and you look out it’s a concrete jungle. Which means it’s just house and building. Not a lot of big space.
The fact that it hasn’t spread is amazing. And I think the government has done a great job in dealing with this.
What is it like in Vietnam right now?
Outside of my street, I couldn’t really tell you. I guess it’s quiet. Which is great and people say that the air is cleaner. Which is great.
Are you worried about the future of Vietnam?
Not at all worried about the future of Vietnam. I’m worried more about the future of the world.
I think this is going to bankrupt a lot of people. So I think it’s going to take a bit of recovery time. Financially and emotionally for a lot of people.
If you lose a loved one in this time my heart goes out to you and it’s going to take a bit of time to recover from the devastation this epidemic, this pandemic, this virus has given us.
But in Vietnam specifically, I don’t think we have much to worry about. Once we find a way to go back to our normal life after this. I think that we will recover very quickly. And the numbers in Vietnam mean that.. we haven’t got that much to bounce back from.
Do you have any messages for the world?
Stay inside. Self-isolate. It’s so important.
I don’t care how nice it outside. I don’t care if you haven’t seen your friends in a while.
Stay inside. Get Netflix. Watch ‘The Tiger King’. Post on Facebook, ‘Fuck that bitch Carole Baskin’.
If you are in Vietnam and you haven’t got Netflix, I really, really recommend it. There are so many shows, that are amazing on Netflix. And you can just watch it for free for the first month, and then cancel your subscription.
If you are A doctor, a nurse, a grocery store worker. A receptionist at the hospital, an operator at the hospital, if you’re working at the hospital. Or if you’re working in a place where you have to care for people.
Even in this time, my heart goes out to you. I hope you stay safe. Thank you so much. I think that it’s going to be a really difficult few months.
“Even in this time, my heart goes out to you. I hope you stay safe” @ John Dewhirst
But the positivity that is coming from the world is going to take us through. This is a time when everyone can step back from the rat race.
Step back from working 9-5. Step back from just caring about work. And we can take care of our family. Message our friends, we can take some time to stay at home and appreciate our life and what we have achieved.
This virus is obviously very bad, but you have to look at the positive it’s given us some time to be like teenagers again.
This virus is horrible. But in a way this virus gives us an opportunity to breathe, relax.
Take care of yourself and Take care of each other. And just get through this the best we can.Have a positive mindset and we can do this.
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