Spreading the tradition of compassion and sharing

Since 2020, May has been designated as the Humanitarian Month in Vietnam. Over the past years, it  has become a meaningful social program, promoting compassion, solidarity and the long-standing Vietnamese tradition of supporting disadvantaged people, while raising awareness and responsibility among authorities, sectors and society toward humanitarian work.

To gain further insight into the goals, significance and key activities of Humanitarian Month 2026, a reporter from Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television spoke with Nguyen Tan Hung, Chairman of the Dong Nai City Red Cross Society (DRCS).

Mobilizing the participation of the whole society

Nguyen Tan Hung, Chairman of the Dong Nai City Red Cross Society. Photo: Nga Son

• This is the sixth year Dong Nai has launched Humanitarian Month under the direction of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat. Could you share some of the most notable achievements of Humanitarian Month in recent years?

Over the years, the implementation of Humanitarian Month has consistently received strong support from the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS), the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, (now the Dong Nai City Party Committee and People’s Committee), along with the joint efforts of Party committees, authorities, departments, mass organizations, businesses and benefactors across the locality.

Thanks to such support, Humanitarian Month has achieved many positive results. Over the past five years, the Provincial Red Cross Society, including the former Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc Red Cross societies, now merged into the Dong Nai City Red Cross Society, has mobilized resources to build 176 Red Cross houses, supported livelihoods for nearly 2,000 households, and organized free medical examinations, medicine distribution, health consultations and gift presentations for nearly 36,000 people.

Moreover, grassroots Red Cross chapters have regularly mobilized resources to provide free meals for poor patients undergoing treatment at hospitals, while also calling on organizations and individuals to support disadvantaged individuals and families in need, as well as provide scholarships and bicycles for disadvantaged students.

• In your opinion, what is the greatest achievement Humanitarian Month has brought about in recent years?

Beyond mobilizing resources to support poor households, disadvantaged people and vulnerable groups, the Humanitarian Month also aims to spread compassion, solidarity and mutual support, while enhancing the responsibility of authorities, sectors and society toward humanitarian activities.

In recent years, communication and humanitarian value promotion have been carried out in a comprehensive and diverse manner. Humanitarian Month has become a peak period for nationwide humanitarian action, receiving enthusiastic participation from the entire political system, businesses, religious organizations and people from all walks of life. Through these efforts, the tradition of compassion and community sharing has been widely promoted throughout society.

• How have Humanitarian Month activities affected local residents, particularly poor and vulnerable groups?

Humanitarian Month has generated positive impacts on people’s lives, especially among poor households, disadvantaged residents and vulnerable groups. From mobilized resources, Red Cross organizations at all levels have implemented various forms of support, including cash assistance, necessities, school supplies, livelihood tools, Red Cross houses, charitable meals, medical assistance and emergency aid during disasters or hardships.

In addition, local Red Cross chapters have maintained humanitarian models such as charitable kitchens, rice jars of compassion, voluntary blood donation campaigns, humanitarian donation boxes and community medicine cabinets.

These activities not only help ease immediate difficulties but also allow disadvantaged people to feel the care and companionship of the community, thereby encouraging them to improve household livelihoods and stabilize their lives.

According to the DRCS, after five years of implementing Humanitarian Month, Red Cross organizations across the city have mobilized and coordinated humanitarian activities worth more than VND72 billion, benefiting over 249,000 poor and disadvantaged people as well as vulnerable groups.

Encouraging humanitarian activities

• Building on previous achievements, how will Humanitarian Month 2026 be implemented?

Since late March 2026, we have developed and deployed plans for Humanitarian Month 2026 across grassroots Red Cross chapters. This year’s theme is “80 years – A humanitarian journey for the community,” marking the 80th anniversary of the VRCS (November 23, 1946 - 2026).

Accordingly, the DRCS has set a target of mobilizing more than VND5 billion to implement activities during the action month and proactively respond to humanitarian assistance needs throughout 2026. Grassroots chapters are also encouraged to provide sustainable livelihood support for poor households, with at least five households supported in each commune and assistance valued at no less than VND5 million per household during the year.

In addition, grassroots units will organize community Humanitarian Festive Day and strive to carry out at least two humanitarian projects or activities valued at VND80 million each. The entire city also aims to receive around 4,000 units of donated blood.

Representatives of the DRCS express appreciation to businesses, organizations and benefactors at the launch ceremony of Humanitarian Month 2026.

• Dong Nai has now officially become Vietnam’s seventh city. What new requirements and changes does this bring to humanitarian work, particularly for this year’s Humanitarian Month?

This is the sixth year Humanitarian Month has been implemented, but also the first year following the merger and the operation of the two-tier local government model.

Following the merger, the new Dong Nai, now Dong Nai City, has a much larger area and population. This creates higher demands for social charity work in general and for the city’s Red Cross humanitarian activities in particular. Meanwhile, only 46 out of the city’s 95 communes and wards currently have established Red Cross organizations, posing a considerable challenge for humanitarian work.

Therefore, one of the new features this year is that the DRCS has appealed to businesses, organizations and individuals while encouraging them to organize humanitarian activities on their own initiative.

Besides presenting gifts and essential goods, Humanitarian Month 2026 will place greater emphasis on livelihood support for poor and disadvantaged people so they can gradually overcome hardship and escape poverty.

• In your view, what solutions should be prioritized to ensure Humanitarian Month 2026 achieves its goals and significance?

To ensure this year’s Humanitarian Month fulfills its objectives and targets, the DRCS has actively advised the City Fatherland Front Committee to strengthen communication efforts down to hamlets and residential areas so people can better understand and share with disadvantaged groups.

Furthermore, the DRCS is promoting the role of grassroots volunteers in inspiring compassion and solidarity among residents from all walks of life.

Although Red Cross organizations at all levels play the core role in humanitarian work, achieving broader effectiveness and stronger social impact require active participation from authorities, sectors, organizations, businesses and benefactors so that more resources can be mobilized to support poor, disadvantaged and vulnerable people.

By N.Son – Translated by M.Nguyet, Thu Ha