As the citywide lockdown caused blood shortages in Hanoi's hospitals, many foreigners in the city donated blood during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

A platform that helps manage blood donations will reduce the time of waiting and ensure physical distancing during blood donations in HCMC.

HCM City faces a severe shortage of blood for emergency aid and treatment at hospitals, according to the HCM City Hospital of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

Nearly 10,000 units of blood have been collected over the past month during the annual nationwide blood donation campaign Hành Trình Đỏ (Red Journey).

Red Journey 2020 blood donation campaign will take place from June 6 to August 8 in 42 provinces and cities, said the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT).

The HCM City People’s Committee is calling for blood donation since hospitals face a severe shortage following the lengthy social distancing order.

Director of the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) Bach Quoc Khanh spoke about the voluntary blood donation movement, during the COVID-19 pandemic which has deterred many from going to blood drive.

The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) is appealing to people with blood types O and A to make donations, as its blood reserves are now only sufficient to cover one week.

Vu Manh Linh, a 32-year-old youth union leader from Nam Dinh City, donates blood every four months as he wanted to share his blood for a more healthy community.

Hundreds of young people in HCM City are calling on their friends via social media and others to donate blood to address a shortage amid the ongoing public health emergency caused by the coronavirus.

Organisers expect to collect at least 50,000 units of blood during “Chu Nhat Do 2020” (Red Sunday), a blood donation festival, which will kick off on December 22 in Hanoi.

Le Van Sy, a health technician at a hospital in central Quang Binh Province, has been dedicated to giving blood for years.

More than 500 Buddhist monks, nuns and followers registered for blood donation while 150 people put their names on the list of organ donors at a festival in Hanoi on August 4.

Nguyen Tri Hieu, 48, from HCM City has donated blood 71 times. However, he has set a goal of donating blood up to 100 times or until his health no longer allows him to.