This is one of two key programs of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC) to be implemented during the 2022-2027 term, aiming to improve working conditions, safety and livelihoods for poor and disadvantaged fishermen, and encourage fishermen to go offshore.

Many localities join

Support contents under the program "Safety for poor and disadvantaged fishermen" include: Support for safety equipment (multi-purpose life jackets, first aid kits, national flags), support for sustainable livelihoods (seedlings, livestock, fishing gear for aquatic exploitation), cash support, house repair and construction, skills training and law dissemination.

In Quang Nam, in addition to the support of the Red Cross Association at all levels in the province, fishermen also receive help, sharing and encouragement from the Red Cross Associations of several provinces and cities across the country.

As recently (April 10, 2025), 140 poor and disadvantaged fishing households in 3 communes of Duy Vinh, Duy Hai and Duy Nghia of Duy Xuyen district received gifts (500,000 VND/household) from the Hai Duong Provincial Red Cross Association.

Presenting gifts to the families of fishermen in Duy Xuyen district, Mr. Nguyen Van The - Chairman of the Hai Duong Provincial Red Cross Association sent his best wishes for health and luck and hoped that the fishermen would continue to promote their traditional profession, go out to sea, and protect the country's sea and islands. On this occasion, the Hai Duong Provincial Red Cross Association also presented funds to build houses and gifts to fishermen in Quang Ngai province and Da Nang city.

Also from the program "Safety for poor and disadvantaged fishermen", in 2024, Mr. Nguyen Dau (born in 1969, Long Thanh village, Tam Tien commune, Nui Thanh district) was one of two fishing families receiving livelihood support (breeding cows) from the Kon Tum Provincial Red Cross Society. Mr. Dau's family is in quite difficult circumstances, with a disabled son. After many years of working at sea, his health is now not good enough to continue working. His family was very excited to receive a livelihood from the Red Cross Society.

“I thank the Red Cross Association of Kon Tum and Quang Nam provinces for their concern for fishing families like us. My family will try to take good care of the breeding cow so that it can give birth soon, creating a livelihood and increasing income,” Mr. Dau shared.

In early 2025, visiting some humanitarian addresses and fishing families in Quang Nam receiving support from the association, Ms. Bui Thi Hoa - President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society highly appreciated the results and active participation of the Quang Nam Provincial Red Cross Society in implementing the program "Safety for poor and disadvantaged fishermen".

Ms. Hoa said that the program contributed greatly to the implementation of the Vietnam Sea Campaign. Through its implementation, it mobilized all levels of the Red Cross Society and people nationwide to join hands to support fishermen in 20 coastal provinces and cities.

“The program has created a spread, solidarity, and sharing among the provinces and cities in the plains and mountainous areas in joining hands to help humanitarian addresses. That is the great spiritual value in addition to the material value that the organization brings to the people,” said Ms. Hoa.

Quang Nam actively participates

In recent years, the program "Safety for poor and disadvantaged fishermen" has been responded to and implemented by the Quang Nam Provincial Red Cross Association with many outstanding results. In 2022, after receiving an official dispatch surveying the number of boats and the situation of fishermen in the three districts of Duy Xuyen, Nui Thanh and Thang Binh, the Provincial Red Cross Association issued Instruction No. 03 (dated September 12, 2022) on the implementation of the program.

Every year, the Provincial Red Cross Association directs the 3 districts in the program to advise leaders and coordinate with departments and branches to develop specific plans for implementation in the locality.

Districts not included in the program mobilize resources to support the three selected localities. The Association also develops a plan and coordinates with the Quang Nam Border Guard Command to organize legal dissemination and first aid training for poor and disadvantaged fishermen.

Accordingly, in the first half of the 2022 - 2027 term, the total value of the program "Safety for poor and disadvantaged fishermen" of the Red Cross Association of Quang Nam province reached more than 4.1 billion VND; in 2024 alone, the total value of the program's activities reached more than 1 billion VND.

In particular, the Provincial Red Cross Association coordinated with the Provincial Border Guard Command to organize 10 training courses on legal knowledge and first aid for 500 fishermen; distributed 200 leaflets on sea and island laws, 200 national flags, and 200 life jackets to owners of offshore fishing boats.

In addition, the campaign supported the construction of 4 new houses and the repair of 2 houses for fishermen's families in difficult circumstances; supported the development of sustainable livelihoods for 15 households; provided gifts, free medical examinations and scholarships for fishermen's children...

Ms. Vo Thi Ngoc Diep - Vice President of the Provincial Red Cross Association assessed: "Safety for poor and disadvantaged fishermen" is a very practical and meaningful program to help fishermen prevent natural disasters and incidents at sea, and reduce risks.

Through the program, we create confidence and motivation for fishing households to feel secure and develop their economy, which is a great motivation for fishermen to be determined to overcome all difficulties, continue to go out to sea, firmly protect the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland.