Seven patients with heart diseases, including six children, will be sent to the Republic of Korea (RoK) for heart operations from June 10-30 with assistance from Korean hospital Se Gye Ro.

The cost of the operation, estimated at US$8,000 for each patient, will be funded by RoK donors including companies with investments in Vietnam, and Protestant followers.

Se Gye Ro hospital, which has a branch in the southern Vietnamese province of Long An, will conduct regular checks-up every three months for these patients after the surgery.

Between 2002 and 2005, Se Gye Ro hospital and many RoK health organisations helped bring 15 Vietnamese patients to the RoK for free-of-charge heart surgery.