Almost 1,000 children gathered on Oct. 1 at a sports centre in the capital’s Ung Hoa District to celebrate the mid-autumn festival.

With the theme “Moon of Love”, the night festival was a cheerful event as children sang and danced together.

Speaking to children at the festival, Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong said the theme of the night was especially meaningful in the context of the recent storms that hit the central region, which impacted many children and their families.

Trong said the spirit of solidarity at the event would help to urge everyone to join together in helping poor children and families affected by the recent storm.

The NA chairman said he hoped children nationwide would try their best to study and improve themselves as well as become good citizens to contribute to the development of the capital and the country. He also presented gifts and scholarships to poor and disadvantaged students who had achieved outstanding results at school.

On the same day, President Nguyen Minh Triet sent a letter to children across the nation to wish them a happy mid-autumn festival.

“Many of you are from poor families, from remote areas, but with your dreams, your will and strong determination, you have tried your best to become good children and good students, getting high prizes in national and international contests,” said President Triet in his letter.

Triet said he hoped mid-autumn cheer would help children to have optimistic and practical outlook on life.

“Every little good result in your studies and in your self-improvement is a joy for the whole community,” he said.

He also affirmed that the Party and State always strove to ensure the best conditions for children, since they are the nation’s future. The President called on every child to try their best during their studies at school and to become good citizens who can contribute to the country’s construction and development cause./.