Vietnam Relief Effort is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that seeks to bring aid – through education, medical and relief projects – to impoverished regions of Vietnam.

It started in late 1999. After a crippling flood surged through central Vietnam, killing 736 people and displacing more than 1,600,000 others, we decided to take action. A group of Vietnamese-Americans took to the phones to raise enough money to go back to Vietnam to buy rice, blankets and other supplies, and personally distribute it to the villagers. It was a chance for us to help the country we came from.

The overwhelming support we received heartened us. After reaching out to family, friends and acquaintances, the donations began pouring in. Within a month, we had raised $20,000 to bring back to Vietnam. Then the paperwork began. The organization was conceived as part of an effort to make the donations tax deductible to compensate supporters for their generosity.

Since then, Vietnam Relief has branched out into other projects. We’ve built modest bridges to ease transportation in remote areas and funded eye surgeries for the vision impaired. Currently, we’re working on building and expanding schools in Vietnam so that kids can have a better chance at learning, and at life.

We would welcome your suggestions and financial support. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and can be earmarked for a specific project.

Read the Asian Wall Street Journal article about these relief efforts.