VietNamNet Bridge - The list of donors in Vietnam has grown longer by the day after many corporations and local media launched an appeal for contributions for Japan’s quake victims.

73 year old Nguyen Van Nhon sobbing bitterly at theTuoi Tre

newspaper office over the plight ofJapanese victims. He donates

VND500,000 for disaster victims (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

The government office on March 17 collected nearly VND190, 000 from one day’s salary of employees to send to Japanese disaster victims.

The leaders and staff at the Party office and the President’s Palace contributed one day’s salary to support their fellow Asian nation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also responded by collecting VND200, 000.

As of March 17, the Hanoi Red Cross, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam radio and the Foreign Ministry have offered a total of VND 875 million to Japanese victims, through the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC). VRC has received a total of VND6.1 billion from organizations and individuals to support Japanese victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Tran Ngoc Tang, the President of VRC said that the donations were raised in only one day after the association launched a campaign to raise funds for Japanese victims. The fundraising campaign which will run until April 15 is being carried out in 63 cities and provinces across the country.

The Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group decided to send US$100,000 to the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam. The sum was contributed by employees and profits of the company.

Vietnam Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) has also handed over all proceeds, worth nearly VND 83 million from concerts held on March 12 and 13, to the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam to help the disaster victims. Participating in the concert were famous Japanese pianist Yamashita Yosuke and conductor Honna Tetsuji, who were unable to contact their relatives before the concert started.

The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam yesterday announced a donation of US$100,000 for the Japanese disaster-hit victims.

In HCMC, readers have begun to come to newspaper offices of Sai Gon Giai Phong (SGGP), Tuoi Tre and Thanh Nien to contribute what little money they can for Japanese victims. SGGP had already sent VND100 million from its disaster victim support fund. On the first day of the campaign to raise fund for victims on March 17, the newspaper received VND50.7 million.

Many ministries, agencies, organizations and individuals came to offer condolences to the Japanese government and people over the severe loss caused by the earthquake and tsunami, especially to the bereaved families.

While visiting the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam on March 17 to extend condolences to the Japanese Government and people over their huge loss caused by the powerful earthquake and massive tsunami which rocked the country on March 11, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held a minute’s silence in memory of the victims, expressing that Vietnam extends its sympathy for the earthquake and tsunami victims and their relatives.

PM Dung expressed his admiration for the composure and resilience showed by the Japanese people, believing that with its tradition of resilience and solidarity, plus the support of the international community, Japan would soon surmount all difficulties and rebuild again into a great nation.

On the occasion, PM Dung thanked the Japanese government and people for their active assistance for the Vietnamese community in Japan over the past days. He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to send health officials to Japan to help the country overcome the consequences of the disaster.

Yasuaki Tanizaki, Japan’s Ambassador to Vietnam thanked the Vietnamese government and expressed his appreciation of the people’s timely assistance. He affirmed that the Japanese people will overcome the disaster and rise again as a nation at the earliest possible time.

On the same day, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Minister and Chairman of the Government Office, Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and leaders of departments and agencies under the government office paid their respects at the Japanese Embassy.

Source: SGGP