Speaking at the ceremony, President of the association Dao Minh Chau said that half of the money raised during the six-day campaign will be sent to the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the other half over to the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.

The campaign has received enthusiastic response from the Vietnamese community in Vientiane, embassy staff and Vietnamese businesses in Laos.

After two hours launching the campaign, US$15,550 was collected.

Minister Counsellor at the Vietnamese Embassy Nguyen Thanh Tung hailed the sympathy of overseas Vietnamese towards the homeland and their host country. 

Storm Doksuri, the strongest one hitting Vietnam in many years, hit central Vietnam in mid-September, claiming nine lives and leaving four missing and 112 injured. Total losses were estimated at about US$385 million.

Meanwhile, typhoon Sonca in early August caused flooding and landslides in 14 Lao provinces killing 10 people and resulting in asset losses of around US$7 million.