The Vietnam Golden Heart Fund made its debut in Hanoi on January 12, calling on individuals, organisations, and benefactors both at home and abroad to join hands to help the poor, AO/dioxin victims and families of martyrs and invalids.

At the launch ceremony, war veteran-turned entrepreneur Nguyen Ngoc Khoi, who is one of the fund founders, said the aim is to support poor people nationwide and students who excel in their studies and three food stores with around 300 tonnes of rice in stock, will be set up in the southern, northern and central regions.

Khoi added that representative offices will be set up in Russia, the Czech Republic, the US and Japan to call on entrepreneurs and intellectuals to help poor people back home overcome their difficulties.

On their occasion, the Vietnam Golden Heart Fund and Hanoi Trade Corporation presented 3,000 gifts and VND500 million to poor families and families of martyrs and invalids in Lao Cai, Bac Giang, Son La, Lai Chau, Thai Binh, Phu Tho, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong and Hanoi.