The Vietnamese Government and people hold great admiration for
Japan’s response to the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, said Prime
Minister Nguyen Tan Dung when visiting Japanese embassy in Ha Noi yesterday,
March 17.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung leaves a message of condolences at the Japanese embassy in Ha Noi. (Photo: VNS)

The
Government leader observed a minute of silence in commemoration to victims of
the disaster at the embassy and sent condolences to the Japanese Government and
people for the huge losses they are suffering.

“As a
close friend, Viet Nam will do its best to share these difficult moments with
Japan,” he said.

That
includes Viet Nam’s willingness to send its healthcare workers to Japan.

Japanese
Ambassador Yasuaki Tanizaki said he was grateful for Viet Nam’s supports and
Japan would continue to ensure the safety of Vietnamese people in Japan.

In
response to the Viet Nam Red Cross appeal, the Prime Minister himself and staff
of the Government Office, including deputy prime ministers, donated VND190
million (US$9,050) to support victims of the Japan’s earthquake and tsunami.

State
and Party leaders, as well as ministerial staff also pledged their support to
help Japan.

Red
Cross president Tran Ngoc Tang said the association had received more than VND1
billion ($47,000) in donations, just one day after the appeal was made on
Wednesday.

Vietnam
Airlines has also offered a more than 50 per cent discount for flights departing
from Japan for Ha Noi and HCM City.

The
one-way ticket costs $430 until the end of this month.

The
national carrier has deployed a Boeing 777, which can accommodate up to 324
passengers, for its Tokyo-Ha Noi flights since Tuesday instead of the usual A333
(282 seats) used on the route.

To
support passengers departing from Japan, all four Vietnam Airlines offices in
Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka will remain open. The company, however,
encouraged passengers to have tickets bought from Viet Nam as its Japan-based
offices are now overloaded.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News