A conference to honour nearly 400 outstanding individuals who have made contributions to the nation opened in the central city of Da Nang on July 7.

President Truong Tan Sang attended the event, which offered an opportunity for the Party, State and people to remember and show gratitude to heroes who laid down their lives for national liberation.

Persons who have made great achievements in all aspects during the current national renewal process were also honoured at the event.

The country has over 8.8 million people qualifying as national contributors, accounting for nearly 10 percent of the country’s population. Most of them and their relatives have enjoyed preferential treatment in health care, education, vocational training and job placement.

Since 2007, a fund for people who rendered service to the nation raised over 1.2 trillion VND to build and repair houses and provide money for policy beneficiaries.

On the same day, President Sang and the delegates offered incense at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs in Da Nang city.-VNA