Vietnamese in Japan staying calm, supporting one another during pandemic: Ambassador

Tokyo (VNA) - Despite the rapid spread of the COVID-19 in Japan, the Vietnamese community remains calm and supports each other in coping with the pandemic, according to Ambassador Vu Hong Nam.

He told the Vietnam News Agency that although the lives and livelihoods of Vietnamese people in Japan have been disrupted by the pandemic, the community is calm and patient and complying with guidelines from both the Japanese and Vietnamese Governments.

As a result, the number of Vietnamese infected with SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is quite small, the diplomat noted, adding that thanks to the assistance given by the Japanese health system and Government, some Vietnamese patients have recovered and returned to normality.

Talking about the difficulties facing Vietnamese in Japan, he said most went to work or study in the country but the pandemic has halted such endeavours. Expatriates working in Japan, especially those at small- and medium-sized enterprises, have encountered numerous problems after many businesses were shut down.

However, the ambassador said, during these trying times, the community has upheld the tradition of mutual support. Benefactors have offered free accommodation and raised money to help students who lost their part-time jobs and thus are unable to cover their daily needs.

The embassy has also called on associations and benefactors to make donations to assist needy people and encouraged all staff at Vietnam’s representative agencies in Japan to contribute one day’s salary each to the common effort, the ambassador said.

He expressed his belief that with the community’s joint efforts, all Vietnamese in Japan will overcome the hardships./.