The Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee on Thursday launched a campaign to raise money and goods for tsunami victims in Southeast Asia, Vietnam News Agency reported.

The Presidium appealed to people in the country and overseas Vietnamese for contributions, adding that the government, together with other nations, has sent aid workers and relief to disaster area.

On the same day, Vietnam's President Tran Duc Luong sent a message of condolence to Senior General Than Shwe, Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of Myanmar, over the great loss to his country of lives and properties caused by the Dec. 26 earthquake and tidal wave.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2004)