PurposeThis paper mentions the quick reactions of Vietnam to avoid explosive catastrophes before and during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The work presented here has profound implications for future research of disaster response and preparation for future pandemics. In order to estimate the causal general effect of the pandemic, the authors have to do a quantitative survey at the end of the pandemic.Design/methodology/approachThe difference in damage caused by the pandemic between the great powers and Vietnam is the quick reaction. It plays a decisive role. In attempting to tackle emerging phenomena in the pandemic, this study is deliberately broad-based. Considerable attention is given to explaining each methodological choice. It centers on a core case of Vietnam. Using data from multiple methods, it adopts publish media and contemporary research during the pandemic as a way to draw out key themes within the core case.FindingsThe paper focuses on the lessons for the post-pandemic consist of the Buddhist conception (cause and effect) based on the quick reaction of the Vietnamese government and the adaptation of Vietnamese people. This is a key success for the future anti-pandemic process.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper is not exploring the pandemic within a larger scale of all nations to approach a general lesson for the world.Practical implicationsThe success of the first anti-pandemic phase does not guarantee that subsequent efforts will be successful. Respecting the “opponent” (the coronavirus) is the best way to avoid falling into the deadly subjective trap that some great powers have encountered.Social implicationsThis article highlights the rapid response of the Vietnamese before and during the coronavirus pandemic. From that, the article draws some lessons for the next similar disasters based on the cause and effect.Originality/valueA quick reaction is one of the most important ways to deal with any disaster. After a half year of the coronavirus pandemic spread, Vietnam has 408 infectious cases and no deaths within 96,208,984 people (The Ministry of Health of Vietnam on July 22nd, 2020). Vietnam achieved success with the least expensive price that should be finding in risks and issues in the future.
Risks and issues: reactions of Vietnam and the experience to the world in the first wave of coronavirus pandemic