A charity concert held by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday night raised more than VND1 billion (US$45,000) to support young cancer patients in Vietnam.

The Winter Night’s Dream concert held by Tuoi Tre at GEM Center in District 1 saw nearly 600 philanthropists and 150 artists join together to support the ‘Uoc mo cua Thuy’ (Thuy’s Dream) Foundation, an organization that provides financial assistance to young cancer patients in Vietnam.

Attendees of the Christmas-themed concert wrote out personal wishes and hung them on a wooden Christmas tree, trading in their wishes for one of 320 paper sunflowers, each containing a wish from a cancerous kid.

Those who chose to pick a flower vowed to fulfill the wish written on their chosen flower, many of which were as simple as receiving a carton of milk.

Throughout the night Vietnamese artists serenaded the crowd with Christmas classics including Carol of the Bells, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, and Silent Night.

The concert raised over VND1 billion from ticket and merchandise sales and donations for the Thuy’s Dream Foundation, which plans to use the money to pay for chemotherapy treatment for young patients from underprivileged families; award scholarships to those that make it through; and give presents to children who will be spending Christmas in hospital.

The Thuy’s Dream program was founded by Le Thanh Thuy, a Vietnamese girl known for her tireless work in support of cancer patients and her perseverance and optimism despite being diagnosed with late-stage cancer. The program was taken over by Tuoi Tre following Thuy’s death in 2007 age 19.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!