(VOVworld) – For the last 4 years the Overseas Service (VOV5) of Radio the Voice of Vietnam has been carrying out a charity program for poor, disadvantaged people in Vietnam’s northern mountain provinces. This year the program went to Can Nong commune in the northern border province of Cao Bang.  

Despite freezing weather a delegation of VOV5 staff members visited and presented gifts to people in 5 of the most disadvantaged hamlets in Can Nong commune, 400km from Hanoi. According to Chairman of the communal People’s Committee Lanh Van Dau, 140 of the 358 households in the commune are poor and most people over 30 years old are illiterate and can’t speak the official King dialect of Vietnamese: “The illiteracy rate is high and technological advances have not yet arrived here. The people depend on farming and livestock breeding and the pace of development is much lower than in other communes in Thong Nong district.”

Mu Nai, of Mong ethnicity, said she was happy to receive the gifts although it took her 3 hours to come to the commune: “I received a blanket and some other essential goods for my family. The blanket will keep us warm during the winter.”

Dau said these hamlets count on the local children, who hopefully will improve local living conditions over the next 20 years.

When they learned of VOV5’s charity program, a couple in their 80s in Soc Son, donated more than 100 wool scarves they kitted during a year. A number of travel agencies like Vietsense Travel and Asialand Travel have been involved in the program since its inception. Tai Phuong, an overseas Vietnamese in the US, donated 160 pairs of boots to the program. The Ninh Vu Transportation and Commerce company transported goods to the hamlets. Trinh Van Cuong, a student of Dao ethnicity, said: “I like the confectionaries, clothes, and boots. The new boots will make my travel easier.”

The delegation presented gifts worth a total of 4,500 USD to 260 students, 25 teachers, and 120 poor households. They included blankets, wool scarves, and school supplies. Trinh Van Sau of Phieng Pan hamlet said: “This was the first time I’ve ever received charity gifts. We thank the program’s organizers for giving us essential items for the coming Tet holiday.”

Chairman of the Can Nong communal People’s Committee Lanh Van Dau said: “VOV5’s charity program is very meaningful  in easing the lives of people in Can Nong commune. It will help local peoples enjoy a happier Tet.”