This was the third time such a ceremony has been held by VOV and Prudential Vietnam.

The implementation of an audio book programme started in September, 2007, drawing the participation of VOV reporters who selected the best Vietnamese fairy tales for recording. After more than four months, 3 audio books had been recorded on 900 cassette tapes and CDs.

In his speech, VOV Deputy Director Dao Duy Hua said that this activity demonstrated VOV staff’s feelings towards children who are visually impaired with the aim of encouraging them to overcome their difficulties to get on in their lives. This programme will continue to be launched every year in the hope that more and more visually impaired children can get access to new audio books.

On the occasion, VAB Vice Chairman Nguyen Xuan Huong highlighted this significant activity, which, he said, has enabled children with visual impairments, particularly in remote and mountainous areas to hear the magical fairy tales that they love.

These audio books will be handed over to 15 schools for the blind, 43 provinces and municipal organisations and 400 VAB chapters throughout the country, said Mr Huong.

Vietnam now has 22,000 children with visual impairments, living mostly in rural areas.