Toyota Motor Vietnam on Feb. 27 helped launch a project to plant 30ha of forest in the centre of Soc Son district to improve the landscape around Giong Temple , a World Heritage Site.

Giong Temple is 30km north of the capital and surrounded by mountains, natural lakes and forests, which have an effect on Hanoi 's climate.

Toyota VN put up 4 billion VND (190,000 USD) for the project, in co-ordination with the Institute of Ecological Economy and the People's Committee of Soc Son Commune.

The project also aims to regreen natural forests around Hanoi and raise awareness among local people, particularly the youth, of the need to protect the environment and bio-diversity.

Toyota VN general director Akito Tachibana said the project would run until 2016 and contribute to the green "lung" for Ha Noi, helping it deal with climate change./.