The East Meets West Foundation and the Vietnam Paralympics Association (VPA) have presented 320 wheelchairs to disabled people in 10 provinces and cities throughout Vietnam.

They are gifts of the Vietnam Veterans of Diablo Valley in California, US, and the US-based non-profit Wheelchair Foundation.

Sixty of the donated wheelchairs are specially designed for athletes with disabilities to compete in sports such as basketball, tennis, table tennis, and badminton.

VPA Vice Chairman Vu The Phiet emphasised that Vietnam has more than 5.3 million disabled people, many of whom are poor and face restricted options for social activities because of a lack of appropriate transport. The gift helps them integrate into society more effectively.

The Wheelchair Foundation was established in 2000 with the aim of supporting children, women, and men who need wheelchairs. It has so far provided more than 900,000 wheelchairs for disabled people in 150 countries and territories around the world.