The Hanoi-based tour operator Vietravel launched a public appeal forfinancial support for the fishermen in Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa(Spratly) archipelagoes on July 19.
The move is in response to aprogramme titled, “Fishing nets for Hoang Sa and Truong Sa fishermen,”which is jointly organised by the Golden Heart Fund of Lao Dong (Labour)newspaper and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.
It will run in all the operator’s northern agencies until August 2 andis expected to draw as many as 5,000 donations, which will be sentthrough texting. Those who book Vietravel tours will be exempt fromtexting fees.
In the near future, the drive will be promoted in all Vietravel agencies across the nation.
To date, the drive has raised a total amount of 2.93 billion VND(130,000 USD) to 13 fishermen in Quang Ngai province, helping them tocontinue their job at sea.
This year, the fund hopes to raise 10billion VND (400,000 USD) in order to buy life insurance for 10,000fishermen and boat insurance for hundreds.
Vietravel has beenactive in charity activities, joining several campaigns to presentblankets and clothes to children in the northern mountainous region andoffer free eye surgery to those in need.-VNA