Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) has received over one billion VND (roughly 48,000 USD) from organisations and individuals to support Japanese victims of the March 11 powerful earthquake and tsunami.

VRC President Tran Ngoc Tang said the donations were raised in only one day after the association launched the campaign to raise funds for Japanese victims.

As of March 17 afternoon, the Hanoi Red Cross, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Vietnam Television, Radio the Voice of Vietnam and the Foreign Ministry, offered a total of 875 million VND, of which 200 million VND coming from the Foreign Ministry, said Tang.

The fundraising campaign, which will run until April 15, has been carried out in 63 cities and provinces across the country.

Vietnam Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) has also handed over all proceeds, worth nearly 83 million VND, collected from concerts held on March 12 and 13, to the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam to help natural disaster the victims.

The concert saw the participation of famous Japanese pianist Yamashita Yosuke and conductor Honna Tetsuji, who could not contact their relatives before the concerts started./.