Postcard from Saigon: Thu Vân talks about her experiences during the lockdown

Hey Dawnie,

my name is Thu Vân and I am a Team Leader at the Dawn factory in Saigon, Vietnam. Saigon, where my family and I live, has been in lockdown since July. Only this week have things slowly started to ease up. And yet – or perhaps precisely because of this – I have learned a lot in recent months, especially about myself. That is why I want to tell you today how I managed to cope with the Covid situation.The lockdown began in mid-July and became stricter and stricter. The Covid virus spread at lightning speed and more and more people became ill. We were afraid of coming into contact with infected people, as in Saigon we are no longer allowed to stay at home if we are identified as close contacts, but must go to quarantine facilities. All factories also had to close.

From August 20, the government decided to deploy the military to lock us in our homes. We were not allowed to leave our homes, food was provided to us by the military, and the situation became worse and worse. In all this fear and uncertainty, I finally realized that this lockdown would last a long time. And I realized that although I cannot control the lockdown situation, I can certainly influence how I cope with it.

I decided to use this time at home to work on myself. I wanted to improve my relationship with my children, and I started taking online courses on this topic. Through this, I realized that I can only become a better mother if I work on myself first. So I took courses on how to become a better Team Leader and how I can change my habits

For my courses, I get up every day at half past four in the morning and learn together with other people from all over the world. Through this, I have made new friends and learn something new every day. Not only has my entire daily routine changed because of this. I can also feel how I am changing as a person and acquiring new habits.

I study about six to seven hours a day, spend more time with my children, take care of the small vegetable garden on my terrace, cook new dishes, and exercise every day. I want to transfer this newly acquired energy to my family and my friends as well. I recommended my team to also sign up for a few online courses, and organized a class with a teacher for several children, where they play games, tell stories, and talk about things that concern them.

More than ever, I have realized during this time how grateful I am. Grateful for my family and that we are doing well and have a secure job with which we can have a good life despite everything. I feel that I have made the best of this time, and I am grateful every day for this decision.

With all the best wishes from Saigon

Thu Vân