Dang Thi Viet Phuong (Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; HYI Visiting Scholar, 2024-25); Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences; Joerg Wischermann, GIGA Institute for Asian Studies; Truong Hoang Truong, USSH, VNU, Ho Chi Minh City; Nguyen Duc Chien, Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences
Abstract: This paper investigates the roles and resilience of Vietnamese Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. While international literature highlights the crucial contribution of CSOs to public health crises, especially in the post-pandemic recovery phase, academic analysis of Vietnamese CSOs has remained scarce. Drawing on empirical data from two urban hubs- Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City- this article explores how CSOs participated in epidemic prevention, what internal and external resources they mobilized, and how they evaluated their own impact. By examining organizational characteristics such as type, operational scope, field of activity, human resources, funding sources, and relationships with the state, the paper provides a multi-dimensional view of CSO engagement during crisis. The analysis identifies key factors influencing the capacity of CSOs to adapt, maintain operations, and respond effectively under extreme pressure. In doing so, it contributes to a deeper understanding of the civil sector’s flexibility, responsiveness, and evolving role in epidemic governance in Vietnam.
Keywords: civil society organizations, COVID-19, resilience, Vietnam, epidemic governance
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