In the funeral book at the Japanese embassy in Vietnam, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung wrote, “The Party, State, Government and people of Vietnam are in deep mourning for the victims of the catastrophic quake and tsunami in Japan and share deep sympathy with the Japanese Government and people.”

By March 18, the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) received over VND6 billion to assist Japan. The Ministry of Health is also scheduled to send medical staff to Japan to support its healthcare services.  

Nguyen Duc Hien, a 70-year-old living in Hanoi, went directly to the VRC headquarters to contribute part of his retirement pension, hoping to relieve some of the pain the Japanese people are now suffering.

He said Japan has helped Vietnam very much and he is thankful to them and admires them. Despite the quake and tsunami, there has not been any riot or looting in the country, and when the people receive food at night, they bow their heads to show thanks.

The people make no complaints and the Government is wholeheartedly concerned about them, which makes people all over the planet admire the Japanese, Hien said.

The Japanese ambassador Yasuaki Tanizaki expressed sincere thanks to the Vietnamese people and declared that the Japanese people will never forget these good deeds.