Present at the annual programme which was aired simultaneously from HCM City and Hanoi included President Nguyen Minh Triet, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Huynh Ngoc Son, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC) Vu Trong Kim, Deputy PM Truong Vinh Trong, NA Deputy Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien and VFFCC President Huynh Dam.

Addressing the programme, President Triet said that the campaign “Day for the Poor” has brought happiness to many poor families and won the support from all walks of life.

The State President took the occasion to call on organisations, individuals and people nationwide to join hands in helping the poor.

The Fund for the Poor at all levels have raised more than 3 trillion VND since the launch of the campaign. With the assistance of the entire community, more than 900,000 houses were repaired and built for the poor.

The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group led the donors with 500 billion VND, followed by HCM City with 300 billion VND, Hau Giang province, 150 billion VND and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha 150 billion VND.

To the fund, the world vision project also contributed 15 million USD; the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Society, 4.2 million USD; the embassy and businesses of the Republic of Korea , 2.1 million USD and the Laos embassy, 500,000 USD.

At the event, a number of works made in response to the campaign “Day for the Poor” were auctioned. At the auction, the “Lac Hong” Cup was sold for 5. 2 billion VND; the gold-plated Cup “For the Poor – Joining the Great Fold”, for 7 billion VND; and scooter Vespa that President Triet presented to the Vietnam Blinds Association, for 1 billion VND.

The programme mobilised more than 4.9 trillion VND for the poor.

(Source: Vietnamplus)