The activity was part of the “Helmets for Kids” programme, jointlyorganised by the Australian embassy and Asia Injury Prevention (AIP).
The Minister of Transport and Chairman of the National Traffic SafetyCommittee, Ho Nghia Dung, expressed thanks to the Australian governmentfor its support to Vietnam with an effort to ensure greater trafficsafety.
Bryce said the UN’s initiative of encouraging helmetwearing drew the participation of Australia , Vietnam and 90 othercountries, which aims to halve road traffic casualties by 2020.
Together with Vietnam , Australia and other partners pledged toraise the percentage of children wearing helmets to 80 percent in thenext three years, she said.
Vietnam reported 13,700 traffic accidents in 2010, killing 11,060 people and injuring 10,000 others.
Studies showed that wearing helmets will reduce the death toll by 42 percent and serious injuries by 69 percent.
Earlier, Governor-General Quentin Bryce and her husband laid a wreathand paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and laid awreath at the monument of fallen soldiers.
The Governor-Generalthen left Hanoi to visit the central city of Da Nang to attend the 2011world conference on drowning prevention./.