VND500m donated to Dien Bien Phu bicycle race

The bicycle race to the battlefield at Dien Bien Phu has received VND500m (USD21,400) which will be used to support families of veterans.

  

Editor-in-chief of Dantri Newspaper and director of Vietnam Fund For Learning Promotion, Pham Huy Hoan (third from left) gives VND500m to the bicycle race to Dien Bien Phu on April 24

On April 24, during the My Country music show at the Hanoi Opera House, Pham Huy Hoan, editor-in-chief of Dantri and director of Vietnam Fund For Learning Promotion, gave VND500m to the bicycle race to Dien Bien Phu held by the People's Army Newspaper.

The donation came from Vong Tay Dong Doi Fund, under Vietnam Fund For Learning Promotion, which was set up in 2007 to support children of veterans and families that are under preferential policies. After two TV programmes, the fund received VND9bn (USD386,000) in donations which have been used to support disadvantaged people over the past 12 years.

The race will be held in Hanoi, Hoa Binh, Son La and Dien Bien provinces and dozens of gifts will also be transferred to those in need. The race will be held from May 1 to 6.

Pham Van Huan, editor-in-chief of People's Army Newspaper, said the victory at Dien Bien Phu was a major landmark in history. This is the 8th bicycle race to Dien Bien Phu battlefand and celebrates the 65th anniversary of the victory.

The race has attracted nearly 300 participants from 10 strongest teams in Vietnam. The cyclists will compete on a 500-km route from Hanoi's Hoan Kiem Lake to Dien Bien Phu City. Along the route, they will stop and give presents to children and families of the veterans.