At the launch ceremony, Dao Van Binh, chairman of the Hanoi chapter of Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, who is also head of the “Fund for the Poor” emphasized the great significance of the campaign which is aimed at strengthening solidarity among the Vietnamese people.

Mr Binh called on businesses, organizations and all strata of people from all walks of life to help poor households escape poverty for the benefit of a peaceful, civilized Hanoi.

The city’s Fund for the Poor received more than VND100 billion from individuals and representatives of different organisations present at the function.

Over the past ten years, the fund has raised more than VND140 billion, helped build and repair more than 20,000 houses, provided funding and health check-ups for poor households. Over the last ten months, it has collected VND15 billion in support of 15,000 poor households and financed free surgery for 19 children with congenital heart diseases.

There is a plan afoot to rebuild 3,700 houses for poor households from now until early next year.