Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong visited children in need at Hanoi's Bo De and Ngoc Lam Pagodas on May 26 on the occasion of International Children's Day, to be celebrated on June 1.

Trong praised the work of monks taking care of the children and gave gifts to children at the two pagodas in Long Bien district.

Bo De pagoda, home to hundreds of destitute children since 1989, currently houses 115 children, 17 of whom are HIV positive.

Monks at Ngoc Lam Pagoda are taking care of an additional 100 children, including a number of children undergoing HIV treatment.

According to the monks, while with individual and State sponsorship, both pagodas can provide children with proper health care and education, the pagodas still need additional support in developing areas for children to play and projects for reintroducing children back into society.

Trong asked local authorities and the Ministry of Health to create better conditions for education, health care and the re-introduction of children into their communities.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan on May 26 led a delegation to the northern province of Hoa Binh's Ky Son district to present gifts worth 49 million VND (2,300 USD) to 49 children ahead of International Children's Day.

The delegation included former Politburo member and honorary chairwoman of the Association for the Support of Vietnamese Handicapped Orphans Nguyen Thi Xuan My, Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Dien and Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep

At the meeting, Doan praised teachers and pupils from kindergartens and primary schools in the district's Phuc Tien commune for their achievements over the past year.

Many of the children had performed excellently at school, despite 18.6 percent of the commune's households being classed as poor.

Doan advised the children to continue to try hard to become excellent students and help each other to develop for the good of the country.

Doan also presented 20 million VND (970 USD) to the provincial Social Support Centre that is home to elderly people and disadvantaged children.

She said she hoped that the centre would promote mutual affection and bring smiles to those less fortunate than others. /.