Not only us, but also artists and celebrities, during lockdown, tended to spend more time on social media like Instagram or TikTok. Why not, when they are perfect spaces for entertainment, sharing, and staying connected? However, there are also celebrities who choose to "fight the pandemic" in a quieter and more discreet way. Travellive visited the home of Thuy Dung, a gentle and soft-spoken beauty queen, to learn more about her unconventional approach to pandemic response.

Can Dung describe her life during this period?

Throughout the lockdown, the question Dung received most often was also the question she asked everyone most often: "Are you okay?" Of course, at this extraordinary time, no one was okay; health, finances, and mental well-being were all affected by the changes, and Dung was no exception. But while we were searching for and adjusting to a new normal, Dung also found a new state of "okay." Dung's day was quite simple: eating three meals a day, doing light exercise, video calling with friends, and seeing her parents healthy – that was more than enough for her.

Besides following government regulations and guidelines, what is Dung's own way of "fighting the pandemic"?

Dung doesn't force herself to be positive; she embraces all emotions and finds ways to befriend them, transforming them into valuable actions. Dung has gone through three phases, each with its own unique way of "combating the pandemic."

Phase 1 was the initial days of lockdown. Dung dedicated all her time to decorating and cleaning the house, cooking, reading, skincare, and exercising. During this time, she felt she was doing the right thing, being positive, and making good use of the time. Phase 2 came two weeks later, when these seemingly "healthy and balanced" habits were no longer effective for Dung, and she began to feel panicked. That's when she stopped all those "positive" habits, stopped using her phone, and confronted her inner turmoil. She started journaling and meditating, giving herself time to reflect and find answers.Why do I have this feeling?andWhat can I do to change this?.

Phase 3 is when, after struggling for a while, Dung's spirits lifted, and she was ready to return to social media, reconnecting with friends to encourage them based on her own experiences. From there, together, Dung and her friends found ways to help those in greater need. Dung calls this phase...healingWhen you become stronger and calm enough to turn negative situations into action.

Dung doesn't want to mention her other positive activities such as painting, reading, or fundraising to support Covid-19 patients?

Previously, Dung used to invite friends over to her house and teach them to draw. Some enjoyed learning, while others required much persuasion because they thought they couldn't draw. But in the end, everyone found peace and wanted to continue drawing. Dung also often showed off her paintings on Instagram, inspiring many friends to draw along with her. Yet, during the lockdown, Dung didn't draw at all, especially during that long period of crisis when she became disillusioned with even things that used to bring her joy. What surprised Dung most was that the very friends she had inspired before sent her pictures of their drawings, explaining how they had used them to cope with the pandemic. This inspired Dung, and she started picking up a brush again.

Dung isn't a bookworm; in fact, she's quite afraid of books. It's just that when she stops using her phone so much, she needs to access information and entertainment in other ways. She always enjoys reading, but picking up a book is so difficult. She has to find ways to motivate herself, setting daily reading goals to achieve it.small win(A small achievement), Dung reads books and learns English vocabulary, reads aloud to practice her pronunciation, and also makes videos to guide others, as a reminder to herself.

Regarding fundraising, stemming from many sleepless nights, Dung felt uneasy and guilty, feeling that staying home wasn't enough. Although Dung and her family had previously helped the poor and dialysis patients, every time she read news about the pandemic, she felt helpless. That day, she saw her teacher post on Facebook calling for donations to buy ventilators, and she silently contributed, then continued to ponder what else she could do. It wasn't until 3-4 days later, while meditating, that Dung realized why she couldn't do the same, why only contribute a small amount when she could raise funds for a new machine herself? So, she called her teacher, all her friends and family, asked for their opinions, and everyone happily offered their support.

Instead of increasing her online time during lockdown, Dung chose to "stay hidden" more. So, according to Dung, is increasing people's online activity a good way to maintain mental health?

Say DungretiredNot exactly, because Dung has never...Floating.When Dung fell into a crisis, she gave up her phone, meaning she stopped reading the news and following developments.theaterShe primarily uses social media to protect herself. Another reason is that Dung has her own audience; they often confide in her, saying that she is their "peaceful and positive haven," so Dung doesn't want to complain online and spread negativity.

At this point, social media is almost the most effective way for us to feel alive, connected, and understood, and many people have even been saved thanks to actively working charitable groups. So, Dung's answer is yes, living on social media is a good way to do it, as long as we continue.livingDon't think, "I'll get out of the pandemic," or "I'll get out of the lockdown," because this could be a new life for at least many more months, whether you like it or not.

The pandemic has made most of us feellostMore than that, but let's talk about the things we've done.obtainWhat new things has Dung gained in her life?

When Dung moved back in with her parents, she didn't feel like a new person; instead, in a way, she was traveling back in time. It was like rereading a book and realizing there were so many interesting things you hadn't noticed the first time – Dung felt something similar. She cherished her time with her parents more and felt she was being given the chance to be a child again.

What Dung learned sounds a bit funny, but it was how to... sleep. Dung was a true "night owl," having even gone through many periods of insomnia, many nights she just cried because she couldn't sleep. On this occasion, Dung learned a sleep method from a friend, and after two weeks of serious practice and encouragement from her friend, Dung was able to get enough sleep of sufficient quality. Perhaps it was thanks to this that Dung achieved a state of healing.

There's one more thing I forgot to share! I've started waking up to watch the sunrise, and watching the sunrise has helped me a lot, helping me appreciate the moment when a new day begins.

What about sunset, that magical moment that most young people in Saigon are captivated by?

Everyone loves sunsets, and I love them too, but that's when I've finished work, the day is over, and watching the romantic sunset makes me feel relaxed. Sunrise, however, feels very different. Before, I never woke up early enough, or if I did, I rushed to work instead of appreciating it. This lockdown period has given me the opportunity to watch the sunrise, making me feel lucky to still be alive and healthy enough to welcome a new day. Besides, every night before bed, I tend to think deeply and feel sad about many things, but when I watch the sunrise, all the sadness of the previous day seems to completely disappear.