Sowing the seeds of kindness across communities
Over the past five-year term, the society mobilised more than 21.1 trillion VND (804.5 million USD) for humanitarian activities, assisting over 52 million vulnerable and disadvantaged people. It also collected more than 6.6 million units of blood, supported over 14.4 million people through healthcare services, and helped more than 2.6 million people affected by natural disasters and emergencies, contributing to public health protection and stronger community resilience.
Behind every statistic lies a story of compassion and solidarity. These achievements reflect not only measurable outcomes but also the dedication of millions of donors, volunteers and humanitarian workers who have shaped the society's remarkable accomplishments during its 11th term.
Behind every statistic lies a story of compassion and solidarity. These achievements reflect not only measurable outcomes but also the dedication of millions of donors, volunteers and humanitarian workers who have shaped the society's remarkable accomplishments during its 11th term.
Having just transported a female patient to the Emergency Department of Dong Thap General Hospital, Nguyen Van Hao (born in 1982), a volunteer ambulance driver, hurried back to the headquarters of the Tan Long Commune Red Cross Society to prepare for his next journey.
"Some days I make six trips to take three patients to hospital. One trip lasts until 5pm. I always try to get patients safely to hospital and come straight back because someone in a remote area may already be waiting for emergency transport," he said.
The society's free ambulance service in Tan Long Commune has been operating for more than seven years. Following the recent administrative restructuring, the commune now has 11 ambulances, including privately owned vehicles and those operated by the Hoa Hao Buddhist Church and the local Red Cross Society. Running around the clock, the service is provided free of charge for poor, near-poor and disadvantaged households.
According to Le Minh Mat, Chairman of the Tan Long Commune Red Cross Society, demand for the service remains high. "The current fleet still cannot fully meet people's needs. We will continue mobilising resources to add more ambulances so that we can better support residents in emergencies," he said.
Across Dong Thap Province, the Red Cross currently operates 62 free ambulances serving local communities. "This is a deeply humanitarian initiative that provides practical support, particularly for poor and vulnerable people. It helps reduce medical costs, saves lives and reinforces the society's role as a trusted bridge connecting humanitarian resources with those most in need," said Dang Thi Thu Uyen, Chairwoman of the Dong Thap Provincial Red Cross Society.
Meanwhile, the Tan Yen Commune Red Cross Society in Bac Ninh Province has become one of the country's leading local units promoting organ, tissue and body donation, as well as hair donation for cancer patients.
The society views public awareness as the foundation of lasting success. It has continuously renewed its communication methods through social media campaigns, community consultations, humanitarian events and real-life stories of donors and transplant recipients.
To date, 150 people in the commune have voluntarily registered as organ and tissue donors, including four married couples who signed up together.
"These figures represent far more than a campaign's success. They reflect a profound shift in public awareness. When someone registers as an organ donor, they are placing their trust in humanity. When an entire family makes that decision together, they are choosing a more compassionate and meaningful way of life," said Giap Thi Hien, Chairwoman of the Tan Yen Commune Red Cross Society.
Building safer communities prepared for disasters
As a mountainous province frequently affected by flash floods, landslides and extreme weather intensified by climate change, Son La faces growing disaster risks every year.
Even during the recent peak rainy season, Red Cross volunteers across the province continued inspecting landslide-prone areas, reviewing evacuation plans and educating residents on disaster preparedness. These activities are no longer limited to emergency periods but have become part of a long-term community resilience strategy.
Rather than focusing primarily on post-disaster relief, the Son La Provincial Red Cross Society has shifted towards proactive disaster risk reduction, equipping communities with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to protect themselves before disasters occur.
Working closely with provincial authorities and relevant agencies, the society has trained emergency response teams in high-risk areas, participated in disaster preparedness drills and supported communities with food, cash assistance, clean water and livelihood recovery programmes after major disasters.
According to Cam Thi Chuyen, Chairwoman of the Son La Provincial Red Cross Society, the province will continue expanding the safe community model, strengthening local response capacity, investing in emergency equipment and accelerating digital transformation in disaster warning systems, information management and relief coordination. The society also plans to mobilise greater social resources to build safer schools and support climate-resilient livelihoods.
A safe community is not one that never experiences disasters, but one that has the capacity to prevent, adapt to and recover from every risk. That is the new humanitarian vision the Viet Nam Red Cross Society is pursuing in the coming term.
Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society’s 11th Central Committee
Nguyen Hai Anh, Vice President and General Secretary of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society’s 11th Central Committee said a safe community is not one that never experiences disasters, but one that has the capacity to prevent, adapt to and recover from every risk. That is the new humanitarian vision the Viet Nam Red Cross Society is pursuing in the coming term.
One important priority is to link emergency relief with recovery and long-term development. After disasters, people need more than food and basic necessities. They also need livelihoods, clean water, healthcare, psychological support and the means to rebuild their lives. Humanitarian work must therefore accompany communities throughout the entire cycle—from prevention and response to recovery and sustainable development" he said.
For that reason, the 12th National Congress of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society has identified 'Safe communities ready for natural disasters and emergencies' as the organisation's sole flagship programme for the 2026–2031 term.
"This is not merely a disaster response initiative. It is a comprehensive community development programme aimed at strengthening resilience from the grassroots level," Nguyen Hai Anh emphasised.
