He also took the occasion to ask the provincial authorities to do their best for the cause of sustainable poverty reduction.
The same day, nearly 60 coaches departed from Ho Chi Minh City carrying poor students to their native regions and homes, so they can be reunited with their families ahead of the Tet festival.
The programme, co-hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City Communist Youth Union, the Support Centre for Ho Chi Minh City Students, Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper and PepsiCo. Vietnam, offers free travel tickets to 5,000 poor students, workers and people living with disabilities in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.
On January 31 and February 2, the next set of coaches will depart from the three cities.
Initiated in 2002, the programme has brought New Year joy to as many as 37,100 people.
Gift-giving activities were also held in the northern provinces of Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho, the central province of Quang Nam, Ho Chi Minh City, the southern province of Hau Giang and other localities.
