Veterans, heroic mothers to be given relief, homes

The value of each relief package will average VND350,000 ($19.5).

The northern port city of Hai Phong, meanwhile, is preparing to present 198 new "charity houses" to social policy beneficiaries, and upgrade 450 others, at a value of VND14 billion ($778,000).

Five provinces in the Central Highlands - Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, and Lam Dong - have also disbursed over VND5.5 billion ($306,000) to build 235 new charity houses and repair 115 others to accommodate families in remote and mountainous communes and former battlefield areas.

Since 1995, the title of heroic mother has been bestowed o­n nearly 50,000 mothers whose husbands or children died during the wars, according to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

A survey of 5,000 of them found most were living happy lives in good conditions with good health care. In addition to a monthly stipend, heroic mothers also receive support from local agencies, enterprises and individuals.