Visiting and giving gifts in Van Tho commune (Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province)

On December 14, 2008, a delegation from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, led by Mr. Dang Xuan Khang - Chairman of the University's Trade Union - visited and presented gifts to Van Tho commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province. Representatives from the Party Committee, the People's Committee of the commune, and teachers and elementary school students of Van Tho commune were present to welcome the delegation.

During the working session, the delegation presented the commune with 2,100 notebooks, 600 pencils, 600 erasers, textbooks, school supplies, and 22 boxes of clothing for the people of the commune. The delegation also presented 8 cash gifts, each worth 200,000 VND, to 8 students in difficult circumstances and donated 2 million VND to the Van Tho Commune's Fund for the Poor.

Van Tho commune, Dai Tu district, Thai Nguyen province, is where cadres and students of the University of Hanoi (now Vietnam National University, Hanoi) evacuated, lived, studied, and taught during the first bombing campaign by the US imperialists (1965-1969). The commune currently has 3,700 inhabitants, primarily engaged in agriculture. The lives of the people in Van Tho commune are very difficult, with over 50% of households classified as poor or near-poor, and an average per capita income of no more than 200,000 VND per month.

This activity by the University is both a response to the call from the Ministry of Education and Training and the Vietnam Education Union to donate books, school supplies, and warm clothing to help students and teachers in remote, disadvantaged, and particularly difficult areas, and a heartfelt visit to a locality that was once closely associated with the teachers and students of the former University during the war years. It is known that since 1996, many such exchange and visitation activities have been regularly organized between Van Tho commune and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in particular, and Vietnam National University, Hanoi in general.

Here are some photos from the visit: