(CNN) When the world looked to Asia for successful examples in handling the novel coronavirus outbreak, much attention and plaudits were paid to South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Acting earlyVietnam started preparing for a coronavirus outbreak weeks before its first case was detected. On January 23, Vietnam confirmed its first two coronavirus cases -- a Chinese national living in Vietnam and his father, who had traveled from Wuhan to visit his son. On February 1, Vietnam declared a national epidemic -- with just six confirmed cases recorded across the country. On February 12, it locked down an entire rural community of 10,000 people north of Hanoi for 20 days over seven coronavirus cases -- the first large-scale lockdown known outside China.

Source: CNN May 30, 2020 01:41 UTC