Lam made the commitment at a get-together of more than 300 needy children who were born with heart disease in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa. The children have been given free heart surgery under a programme of VinaCapital Foundation (VCF) Heartbeat Vietnam.

He said the support also includes funds for more than 40 poor children who are now waiting for heart surgery in Khanh Hoa province.

Over the past four years, 333 needy kids in the province have had heart surgery at a total cost of over VND13.6 billion, of which VND8 billion was funded by the VCF.

The Foundation has also provided equipment and machinery worth VND6.5 billion to Khanh Hoa Hospital.