The programme has been organised by the Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper's Golden Heart Fund; the Viet Nam Television Cable Company and the Power Communications JSC, and calls for all Vietnamese at home and abroad to contribute to fisheries surveillance and maritime security to protect the country's islands and seas. — Photo laodong

HA NOI (VNS) — A programme entiled Millions of Hearts for the Country kicked off yesterday in Ha Noi aiming to raise funds for Vietnamese forces stationed on the nation's coast and islands.

The programme has been organised by the Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper's Golden Heart Fund; the Viet Nam Television Cable Company and the Power Communications JSC, and calls for all Vietnamese at home and abroad to contribute to fisheries surveillance and maritime security to protect the country's islands and seas.

Individuals and organisations can support the fund by texting "TCT" to 1407 to contribute VND14,000 (US$0.7), or visit the website at tamlongvang.laodong.com.vn.

Cash contributions will also be accepted at the Golden Heart Fund, 51 Hang Bo Street, Ha Noi.

Photos contributors will be made into giant collages of the Spratly and Paracel islands.

The two pictures will be auctioned to raise money for a memorial park dedicated to the officers and soldiers who perished in a battle on March 14, 1988 while defending Gac Ma Island in the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago. — VNS