Over $404mln earmarked to support the poor during Tet

Cities and provinces nationwide earmarked about VND9.5 trillion ($404.81 million) to support 25 million poor and disadvantaged people during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Hanoi presented Tet gifts worth over VND813.8 billion ($34.4 million) to 1.62 million people.

In Ho Chi Minh City, more than 1.29 million people benefited from support totaling VND1.2 trillion ($50.8 million).

Apart from resources from the State budget, socio-political organizations and businesses also held many activities to help the poor during Tet. The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee issued a plan to present 17,000 sets of gifts worth VND600,000-VND1.2 million ($25-50) each. Total funds were estimated at over VND18.2 trillion ($771 million).