The Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s bureau in the southern province of Ben Tre on January 25 presented gifts to ten victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin in Phuoc Hiep commune, Mo Cay Nam district, on the occasion of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

The gifts, each including 300,000 VND, 10 kilograms of rice and other essential commodities, aim to bring a warm and happy traditional Tet festival to the beneficiaries.

Earlier, the VNA’s Fund for AO Victims granted four gifts, each worth 1 million VND, to AO victims in Phanh Phu Dong commune in Giong Trom district and Long Hoa commune in Binh Dai district.

From January 21-25, the Red Cross Association of southern Tra Vinh province handed over gifts totalling nearly 10 billion VND to more than 32,200 poor households and AO victims in seven districts.

Tran Van Don, the association’s president, said it has mobilised the support of individuals, organisations and businesses to people in need since December 2013.

On this occasion, the Tra Vinh provincial People’s Committee poured 2.6 billion VND from its budget to help 4,566 poor households in the locality enjoy a happy festival.

The southern province of Binh Phuoc has also planned to offer over 8.1 billion VND to more than 27,200 needy people during the festive time.

To realise the target, the province has encouraged the participation of organisations and businesses in the locality.

Meanwhile, in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong, more than 27 billion VND has been collected in support of over 20,000 poor households, AO victims and people with disabilities.

The province also presented 57,000 Tet gifts, ranging from 300,000 VND to 500,000 VND, to ethnic minorities and 116 tonnes of rice to thousands of poor households.

More than 200 young people, artisans and Buddhist followers in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang on January 25 wrapped over 600 Chung cakes, which will be presented to poor patients and disabled children.-VNA