Charity concert to raise funds for the poor

The event, called Giai Dieu Tinh Thuong (Melodies of Compassion), is being organised by the Vietnam Fatherland Front in HCM City in partnership with Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV9).

Since it first launched in 2001, the annual show has become one of the most popular charity events, attracting local and foreign organisations as well as local and expatriate residents.

Organisers said this year's theme, "Working Together for Poor People", was chosen to encourage more people to contribute to the work.

The artists will sing folk and traditional music, with the highlight of the show being performances by local traditional art troupes like the Bong Sen Traditional Music and Dance Theatre.

Pop stars Thanh Thuy and Cam Ly are among the prominent celebrities performing at the event.

During the 90-minute show, special guests who are beneficiaries of the event will share with the audience the challenges they face in daily life, including work and study.

More than 500 people are expected to attend the concert.

Buu Chi, head of the show's organising board, said, "Many of audience members are close friends of our event for the last 12 years and have spent time and money for poor families in the city."

"Our concerts have raised several hundreds of billions of dong to build and upgrade more than 20,000 houses for poor people and provide over 30,000 scholarships. "

Organisers are hoping this Friday's concert will raise as much as VND30 billion (US$1.4 million).

"Giai Dieu Tinh Thuong is part of community activities supporting poor people launched by local authorities. The event encourages people to come together and work for a better world," said pop singer Thuy of the Military Zone 7 Art Troupe.

"My colleagues and I feel we are making ourselves useful by performing in the concert," she added.

Thuy and her troupe have participated in several community and charity programmes, using their art to encourage people to share more, particularly with disadvantaged women and children.

The concert will be held at 8.30pm on November 8 at the Ho Chi Minh Television Theatre, 14 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, District 1.