Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (second from left) sends message to support the poor on August 19, 2019. (Photo: VNA)

The campaign, launched by the Ministry of Information and Communications in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, together with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, is in response to International Day for the Eradication of Poverty and Day for the Poor in Vietnam (October 17).

Supporters can join the program by texting “VNN n” to 1408 until midnight of December 31. Each mobile text message will contribute at least 20,000 VND (0.86 USD) which will be used to help the poor residing in areas facing socio-economic difficulties, many of whom belong to ethnic minority groups. According to current poverty standards, Vietnam is now home to 1.3 million impoverished households, which is 5.2 percent of the total population.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said the text message program to support the poor has been held annually since 2017 but this year’s program will be held for a longer period.

“The campaign this year is launched two months earlier, which coincides with Vietnam’s celebration of the 1945 August Revolution and National Day. With its growing popularity and longer time in action, I hope this program can collect ten times more than the amount collected in previous years”, Mr. Hue said.

All proceeds will go to the construction of charitable houses, scholarships for underprivileged students, and new year’s gifts for the poor.