The programme's peer educators handed out free condoms and persuaded those at high-risk to accept HIV testing.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese social organisations have provided vocationaltraining courses to young people living with the disease.
The five-year programme has been implemented by Pact Vietnam – anon-governmental organisation with funding from the United States Agencyfor International Development.
The initiative,kicked off in September 2006, concentrates on five priority provincesincluding An Giang, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Nghe An and Quang Ninh as wellas the four cities of Hanoi, HCM City, Hai Phong and Can Tho.
It aims to enhance the scale, quality and effectiveness of theresponse by the organisations to HIV/AIDS in Vietnam , throughsupporting comprehensive prevention, care, support and treatmentinterventions, and creating a supportive social and policy environment
These localities are the country's largest urbancentres, business ports and mountain provinces affected by cross-borderdrug trading, said PACT's HIV&Health Advisor Pham Thanh Hang.
Around 62,000 people living with HIV, as well as their family members,have benefited from the programme's home-based care.
It is estimated that 4,000 people living with HIV have received antiretroviral treatment.-VNA