Deputy PM Vuong Dinh Hue (second from left) and other officials send text messages to support the poor. (Photo: DDK)

With each SMS message sent to 1408, a mobile user can contribute at least VND20,000 (nearly US$1) to a poverty reduction fund.

The texting programme is part of a nationwide campaign to collect funds to build houses for the poor, award scholarships to underprivileged students and give New Year presents to the poor.

This year, the fundraising programme was launched two months earlier than in previous years and a review gala will be held on October 17, Vietnam’s Day for the Poor.

Deputy PM Hue said that it is a humane programme whose influence has extended to people of all social strata, adding that public contributions will be an important resource to fulfil the government goal that no-one is left behind.

For his part, President of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front Tran Thanh Man affirmed that the programme has attracted the attention of the whole society, businesses, philanthropists and Good Samaritans, who have joined hands to provide welfare for the poor.

Messages sent to 1408 should follow the format “VNN n”, in which n represents the number by which VND20,000 will be multiplied to produce the amount of contribution.