In his telegram, Dam said that the Vietnam Red Cross, member of the VFF, appealed to the Vietnamese people to raise funds for the Japanese people.

The VFF will continue to join hands with the Red Cross in mobilizing social groups to assist the Japanese in dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake and resultant tsunami, he wrote.

**

In the central coastal city of Danang, the local Red Cross received US$60,000 in donations from individuals and organizations.

The local Vietnam-Japan Friendship Association will also hold a fund-raising ceremony on March 19 in support of the Japanese people.

**

On March 17, the employees of Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) donated VND50 million to assist the Japanese people. The money was delivered to the Vietnam Red Cross.

The same day, the Vietnam Red Cross received a donation of VND400 million from its Hanoi chapter.

So far, the Vietnam Red Cross has donated more than VND1 billion to assist the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.