An Binh Commercial Joint Stock Bank has donated 25,000 cinnamon saplings to 23 households in Lao Cai Province and given scholarships worth VND1 million each to 20 disadvantaged students there.

The households in Duong Quy Commune, Van Ban District, receiving the saplings are in difficult circumstances but have land to plant and tend them.

Local authorities will monitor the programme.

The bank also gave 30 scholarships worth a total of VND450 million to children in HCM City who lost their parents to COVID-19.

The activities are part of its Tet An Binh 2022 with the theme ‘Sowing seeds of hope,’ and the sapling donations are also part of a five-year project ‘Green An Binh - Green Vietnam’ that the bank is implementing for a second year in collaboration with the Natural Resources and Environment Media Centre belonging to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Speaking at a ceremony held to hand over the saplings, Le Xuan Quynh, vice chairman of the Van Ban District People's Committee, said, “I believe the officials and people of Duong Quy Commune will plant, tend and protect the trees received under the programme to help improve the environment and their quality of life.”

Nguyen Thi Huong, deputy CEO of ABBANK, said the Green An Binh - Green Vietnam project has great significance for environmental protection, forest protection and disaster prevention.

“Tet An Binh 2022 not only aims to help green Viet Nam, but also spread messages of love and positivity, giving hope to children living in difficult circumstances who have lost loved ones to COVID,” she added.

The Tet An Binh programme has in the last 13 years given more than VND10 billion to mitigate difficulties faced by thousands of people in many localities and improve their livelihoods. — VNS