Celebs spread cheerful messages in pandemic hotspot of HCM City

HCM City (VNA) – Celebrities are spreading inspirational messages over social media networks to cheer people up in Ho Chi Minh City during the southern hub’s recent COVID-19 hardship.

Since July 9, the city has been undergoing social distancing under the Prime Minister’s Directive 16. With stores closed and people staying at home, its once-bustling streets are now quiet. While anxiety and sadness might seem unavoidable, we are seeing many positive vibes from public figures creeping into the community.

Loving messages on social networks

Sharing on his Facebook page, singer Dam Vinh Hung called the city his ‘special mother’, one he has never stopped loving for even a second.

The influential celeb said he believes the city’s children will eventually find the medicine to heal their mother.

Hung is participating in a community campaign run by T Production together with the municipal Communist Youth Union and youth cultural centre, the HCM City Television and the Voice of HCM City. Aiming to harness positive energy for the beloved city to overcome the pandemic as soon as possible, the campaign is running on social media networks with inspirational messages and photos containing the hashtags #LoveSaiGon #LoveHCMC #ThanhPhoYeuThuong #ChienThangDaiDich.

In response to the campaign, singer Ngo Kien Huy wrote “don't just say you love the place, let's put it into action and let's spread positive energy to everyone.” He considers ‘positive energy’ to be an indispensable spiritual medicine to help the anti-epidemic process.

Thanking frontline medical staff and volunteers, he affirmed a need for solidarity and concerted efforts.

Turning love into practical actions

A large number of celebs have become members of volunteer groups of the municipal youth cultural centre. They have been working hard in recent days in support of HCM City’s COVID-19 vaccination drive.

Sporting tight protective suits, fans can hardly recognise Miss H'Hen Nie, Miss Mai Phuong Thuy, singer Phuong Thanh, MC Dai Nghia, MC Quynh Hoa, and actor Tan Phat, among others, who are enthusiastically filling out questionnaires, gathering information, guiding people to queue up for health screenings and helping them to register on the electronic health book software.

The first day HCM City began its social distancing was also the 15th day model Mau Thuy, a runner up of the Miss Vietnam beauty contest, had worked as a COVID-19 volunteer.

“If you put on protective clothing and guide people, you can see all the difficulties facing the medical team. I can't do much, so I contribute my effort to reduce part of their burden,” Thuy said.

Thuy also urged people to join the Go Volunteer team to participate in pandemic prevention and control activities initiated by the municipal Youth Union.

“Please understand and support medical staff, helping them overcome these overloaded days, so that they too can return home to their families and their children,” she said.

Artists have also used music as spiritual medicine to encourage people.

Singers Tuan Hung and Khac Viet have just released their music video titled ‘Sai Gon ơi! Xin loi, cam on.’ (Sai Gon oi! Sorry, thanks.)

“Sorry and thanks are what locals say all the time”, Khac Viet said, explaining the title.

Having lived in the city for years, he expressed his fondness for how people here easily forgive each other's failures and mistakes. “Just say 'sorry' and everyone is happy again,” Viet noted.

Kyo York, a singer from the US, has introduced two music videos to his fans – Hoi Sinh (A Rebirth) and Sai Gon dau long qua (Sai Gon it hurts) – in support of the local fight against COVID-19.

Musician Nguyen Van Chung has recently made himself a hot commodity on TikTok by sharing a cover of “Chiec khan gio am”, a famous Vietnamese pop song about long-distance love. He wrote a new lyric for the cover, which humorously talks about quarantine life.

Chung also raised donations of nearly 3,500 anti-droplet face shields and 2,500 N95 masks for the Nguyen Trai Hospital in District 5 and the District 1 General Hospital.

Many other artists have also quickly sent practical aid like rice and instant noodles to people in need./.