Tran Xuan Thu, vice president of the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange (VAVA), announced the decision at a press conference in Hanoi on July 13.

The aim is to promote dialogue, put forward ideas and raise public responsibility for supporting and caring for the victims, he said.  

The association hope to raise VND60 billion from performances during the day to build 600 houses, grant 1,100 scholarships and generate 1,100 jobs for the victims.

Participants in Orange Day will have the chance to watch documentaries on AO victims and meet with representatives from a delegation of Vietnamese AO victims who went to the US in May 2009 to gather public support for their lawsuit against US chemical companies.

Orange Day is a TV programme to be conducted by Vietnam Television in cooperation with 65 local TV stations across the country and 15 international TV channels.

By October 2008, domestic and international philanthropists had raised more than VND86 billion to build and repair 1,866 houses, provide financial assistance to more than 2,600 households and give medical check-ups and treatment to more than 61,000 victims of Agent Orange.