COVID-19 as a Catalyst: Resilience and Adaptation of Civil Society Organizations in Urban Vietnam During and After the Pandemic

Co-sponsored with the Harvard University Asia Center

The past decade has witnessed significant disruptions in the study of civil society organizations (CSOs) in Vietnam, largely due to the shrinking civic space. This challenge has been further amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has emerged as a universal catalyst, prompting urgent adaptations within the sector. Based on a cross-sectional quantitative survey conducted in Hanoi and Hochiminh City in 2024, this study offers a contemporary assessment of the state of CSOs in urban Vietnam. It investigates how the pandemic has driven both operational and strategic shifts within these organizations, focusing on their responses to the crisis, innovations in scope and mode of operation, and adjustments in priorities and orientations of organizational development. Through these findings, the study seeks to propose feasible strategies for enhancing CSO resilience and adaptation, providing critical insights for policymakers and stakeholders committed to reinforcing the role of civil society in addressing future crises, both within Vietnam and globally.