Vietnam's Sonic Socialism: How Sound Became a Tool for Public Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Riverside, CA, -- The University of California - Riverside released information highlighting Vietnam's innovative use of sound as a tool for public health during the COVID-19 pandemic. As described in Christina Schwenkel's book "Sonic Socialism: Crisis and Care in Pandemic Hanoi" (University of California Press, 2025), Vietnam mobilized old and new media technologies to inform, regulate, and connect people effectively. Through "soundwork" and sensory autoethnography, Schwenkel explains how sonic interventions shaped public health outcomes and reconfigured people's relationships with each other and the state.

Key Takeaways:

• The Vietnamese government used both old and new media technologies, including loudspeakers, messaging alerts, and public health videos, to inform and mobilize the public during the pandemic.
• Sound, as a sensory modality, offers something that sight alone cannot, with Schwenkel highlighting the concept of "sonic dissent" where people resist lockdown rules by making noise.
• The government produced public health music videos that went viral internationally, demonstrating the effective use of sonic media for public health communication.
• Vietnam's pandemic response was characterized as "disaster socialism," where rapid, collective mobilization was made possible through centralized infrastructure, including sonic media.
• Schwenkel advocates for adaptable communication systems that can be activated quickly when needed, combining trust, coordination, and a commitment to collective well-being.
• The author incorporates sound into her teaching approach, asking students to close their eyes and listen to historical recordings or urban soundscapes to engage with history and humanity through a different sensory lens.

Statistics:

• The Vietnamese government sent out billions of text messages with updates about restrictions, health guidelines, and school closures.
• The pandemic revealed how deeply human survival depends on mutual care, clear communication, and community mobilization, with Schwenkel advocating for the role of sound in fostering care.
• Schwenkel conducted soundwalks during lockdowns in Hanoi, listening closely to the ambient sounds of life returning, like distant aerobics music or quiet conversations.
• Vietnam's public health music videos went viral internationally, even airing on shows like Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Sources:

• "Sonic Socialism: Crisis and Care in Pandemic Hanoi" by Christina Schwenkel (University of California Press, 2025)
• Stan Lim (UCR/Stan Lim),
• Christina Schwenkel