LAUSR

www.jogh.org • doi: 10.7189/jogh.10.010354 1 June 2020 • Vol. 10 No. 1 • 010354 Since the first COVID-19 case importation on January 23, Vietnam is now the only country in the world contain the epidemic with 268 confirmed cases (52 active and 216 recovered) with no deaths over the past three months. Being proactive in contact tracing and restrict quarantine of multiple clusters early are common policies that helped Vietnam efficiently control the spread of COVID-19. However, they are resource-intensive while the country has a limited capacity for massive testing. How to ensure surveillance and detection at the grassroots level, especially in rural and remote areas, is a critical question that is challenging not only Vietnam but also other lowand middleincome countries. In this viewpoint, we first summarize the roles and responsibilities of the network of village health workers over its long history of development in Vietnam. Thereafter, we discuss the functionalities of this informal taskforce in monitoring COVID-19 epidemic and delivering packages of interventions, especially in disadvantaged settings.