More than 4,000 blood donors on July 22 formed a huge drop of blood with a gold star at the centre.

The event, which took place at Hanoi ’s My Dinh National Stadium, is expected to set a new world record.

Organisers collected at least 1,500 blood units (350ml each) from more than 4,500 registered donors in attendance at the event.

The event was a part of a blood donation festival, called the Red Connection, organised by the Vietnam Youth Union and the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion to celebrate War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27).

Le Thi Hong, a student from Hanoi Industrial Arts College, said she was honoured to be one of the first people to donate blood at the stadium.

The event also attracted composer Huy Thuc, who received blood for his injuries during the war; Miss Vietnam 2010, Ngoc Han, and many famous singers and bands.-VNA