The 2026 program was organized by Ho Chi Minh City in coordination with the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion to organize the Opening Ceremony of the 14th National Red Journey in 2026 and selected Ho Chi Minh City as the starting point, then spread to 34 provinces and cities.
From early morning, Mr. Nguyen Phu Cuong (born in 1969, Hung Long ward, Ho Chi Minh City), one of the typical faces of the voluntary blood donation movement, came to this year's program. To date, Mr. Cuong has donated blood 88 times and actively mobilized relatives and friends to participate.
He said that he was attached to this activity after realizing that the blood units he donated could help save many patients. With persistent contributions, he received Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister and each representative of typical blood donors of Ho Chi Minh City participating in national honoring programs.
As long as I have health, I will donate blood. This is not only a beautiful gesture but also a responsibility to the community," Mr. Cuong shared.
Also at the program, Ms. Pham Thu Van (28 years old, Ho Chi Minh City) participating in blood donation said: "Each person only needs to spend a little time but it can bring life opportunities to many others. I hope this sharing spirit will spread widely.
The 14th Red Journey in 2026, launched by the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation, takes place from June 1st to August 31st in many provinces and cities across the country. The campaign aims to educate 1 million people about voluntary blood donation and thalassemia, and receive a minimum of 120,000 units of blood.
In 2025, the whole country received more than 1.77 million units of blood, of which over 98% were from voluntary blood donors. This blood source makes an important contribution to emergency and treatment work, helping medical facilities proactively source blood to serve patients.
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ha Thanh - Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Ho Chi Minh City was chosen as the starting point of the Red Journey 2026, because this is a locality with a strong development of voluntary blood donation movement, and for many consecutive years has been a bright spot of the whole country.
He emphasized that blood is a "special medicine" that cannot be artificially produced, only obtained from voluntary blood donors. "We want to spread the message'Connecting Vietnamese Bloodlines', so that more and more people participate in blood donation, because each drop of blood given is an additional life opportunity for patients," he said.
At the opening ceremony, the Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation Mobilization of Ho Chi Minh City honored typical individuals in the blood donation movement. This is an activity to show gratitude to the kind hearts that have persistently accompanied blood donation to save people.
Mr. Bui Minh Thanh - Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee - said that 2026 marks 14 years of the city accompanying the Red Journey. The city aims to receive at least 5,000 units of blood during the launching week, more than 30,000 units of blood in the peak month, and at the same time strengthen communication and raise community awareness about voluntary blood donation and thalassemia.
