At the event, Red Cross officials called on organisations and individuals to actively respond to humanitarian blood campaigns to be held across the country aimed at obtaining at least 137,000 blood units during the four-day festival.

They said currently hospitals are facing a chronic shortage of blood, meeting only 40 percent of patients’ need.

The campaign is part of the 2010 Red Spring Festival which will also be held at My Dinh National Stadium on March 6. Organisers hope to collect more than 4 million blood units for hospitals after the Tet holiday.