Individuals and businesses are being urged to help achieve the government's target of thousands of new bridges in poor and mountainous regions to bring economic development and improve living conditions of impoverished communities.
The Ministry of Transport wants financial support from organisations and individuals at home and abroad to help build 4,145 welfare bridges in 50 provinces nationwide by 2017.
A ceremony to launch "Nhip Cau Yeu Thuong" or "Spans of Love" was held on January 17 by the ministry and the National Committee for Traffic Safety, and involving Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the launch of the 'Spans of Love' campaign on January 17.
"It's really a big challenge to realise the plan amid modest state funding," Phuc said.
"Contributions by the community would be of enormous help in improving the living conditions of people in remote, mountainous and disadvantaged areas," he said.
Phuc said private fund raising would be done in a transparent and efficient manner.
Transport Minister Dinh La Thang has written to businesses, organisation and individuals asking for donations for the bridge programme and had raised VND360bn in contributions.
The Transport Ministry plans to build 4,154 small and mid-sized bridges in 50 cities and provinces across Vietnam, including 481 suspension bridges, with a total investment budget of VND8.339trn.
Construction under the welfare bridge programme began in May 2014, with work commencing on 186 suspension bridges in 28 mountainous provinces in the northern, central and central highlands regions.
To date, 120 bridges have been built and 86 others should be completed in time for this year's Tet holiday. Another 100 bridges should be completed by June 30.
"Spans of Love" receives donations through Vietnam Transportation's Trade Union with the bank account number of 102010001870006 at the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank) branched Hanoi or via mobile phone at 0983131568.
