Over 660,000 USD collected for islanders, soldiers

HCM City (VNA) — Organisations and individuals at the third Xuan noi đao xa (Spring in the Far Island) programme held in HCM City on December 17 donated more than 15 billion VND (660,000 USD) to support island residents and soldiers who are protecting the country’s sovereignty in the East Sea.

South African Honourary Consul Do Thi Kim Lien donated 700 million VND to build 10 gratitude houses for soldiers from families who receive preferential treatment from the government and members of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

The programme was organised by Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund, the Club for Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa, the HCM City Television and the HCM Communist Youth Union. Former Vice President Truong My Hoa is the chairwoman of the fund and the club.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh praised the programme, saying that over the past three years the Club for Beloved Hoang Sa and Truong Sa had attracted more than 80 organisations and more than 3,000 individuals, collecting tens of billions of dong.

Together with the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund, the club has carried out many meaningful activities to support fishermen and soldiers on Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, including donation of charity houses and scholarships and health care support for children of soldiers. -VNA