Trans-Vietnam cycling tournament 2014 - national defence cup kicked off in the southernmost province of Ca Mau on December 2 with the first 180-kilometre long race to Can Tho city.

The event is part of the activities to celebrate the 70 th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944-2014) and the 25 th anniversary of the people’s National Defence Day (December 22, 1989-2014).

As many as 300 cyclists from 15 leading domestic teams and two foreign teams of Cambodia and Laos will compete in a race covering 1,300 kilometres from Ca Mau to the northeastern province of Cao Bang.

During the race, the organising board will launch various charitable activities, such as presenting gifts to social policy beneficiaries and scholarships to offspring of servicemen, with a total funding of 3 billion VND (143,000 USD).

At the tournament’s opening ceremony, 85 gifts were given to national contributors, policy beneficiaries, and martyr families, and 20 scholarships were granted to children of the officials serving in the armed forces in Ca Mau province.

The tournament, jointly held by the People’s Army Newspaper, the military-run telecom group Viettel, the Vietnam Motor-Bicycle Sports Federation and the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, will run until December 16.-VNA