VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese Government and people hold great admiration for Japan's response to the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung when visiting Japanese embassy in Ha Noi yesterday, March 17.


HTML clipboard Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung leaves a message of condolences at the Japanese embassy in Ha Noi. (Photo: VNS)
The Government leader observed a minute of silence in commemoration to victims of the disaster at the embassy and sent condolences to the Japanese Government and people for the huge losses they are suffering.


"As a close friend, Viet Nam will do its best to share these difficult moments with Japan," he said.


That includes Viet Nam's willingness to send its healthcare workers to Japan.


Japanese Ambassador Yasuaki Tanizaki said he was grateful for Viet Nam's supports and Japan would continue to ensure the safety of Vietnamese people in Japan.


In response to the Viet Nam Red Cross appeal, the Prime Minister himself and staff of the Government Office, including deputy prime ministers, donated VND190 million (US$9,050) to support victims of the Japan's earthquake and tsunami.

State and Party leaders, as well as ministerial staff also pledged their support to help Japan.


Red Cross president Tran Ngoc Tang said the association had received more than VND1 billion ($47,000) in donations, just one day after the appeal was made on Wednesday.


Vietnam Airlines has also offered a more than 50 per cent discount for flights departing from Japan for Ha Noi and HCM City.


The one-way ticket costs $430 until the end of this month.


The national carrier has deployed a Boeing 777, which can accommodate up to 324 passengers, for its Tokyo-Ha Noi flights since Tuesday instead of the usual A333 (282 seats) used on the route.


To support passengers departing from Japan, all four Vietnam Airlines offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka will remain open. The company, however, encouraged passengers to have tickets bought from Viet Nam as its Japan-based offices are now overloaded.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News