Film producer and director Ngô Thanh Vân with children who have heart conditions. The kids will benefit from the charity programme Vết Sẹo Cuộc Đời (Scar of Life) organised by VAA Entertainment in partnership with local organisations, including Heartbeat Vietnam. Photo from VAA Entertainment

HCM CITY  Popular singers and dancers will perform at a charity concert in HCM City to raise funds for children with heart disease.

The event, Vết Sẹo Cuộc Đời (Scar of Life), is organised by VAA Entertainment in partnership with local organisations, including Heartbeat Vietnam.

Since it first launched in 2010, the annual show has become one of the most popular charity events in the city, attracting local and foreign organisations as well as local residents and expatriates.  

Organisers said this year's theme “Motherhood” was chosen to highlight mothers who fight to save their children from serious diseases.  

Film producer and director Ngô Thanh Vân, owner of VAA Entertainment and a member of the show's organising board, said: "Many audience members have been close friends of our event for the last eight years and have spent time and money to help more than 1,800 children with heart disease."

Vân said Vết Sẹo Cuộc Đời collected more than US$1.9 million in the least eight years. It has attracted top Vietnamese artists in different fields, including pop stars Đàm Vĩnh Hưng and Hồng Nhung. 

This year, the event hopes to raise US$450,000 to help 350 child patients.

Vân began her career on the catwalk in HCM City in 2000 after leaving her family in Norway.

In 2004, she played one of four leading roles in Rouge, a TV 13-part series by renowned Singaporean director Jonathan Foo. She was selected from 400 candidates from Asian countries.

The work was broadcast on MTV Asia, a cable television channel broadcasting international music. It opened a door to her to become a movie star in the region. 

She has performed in quality films by American and overseas Vietnamese directors.

Her latest film is Da 5 Bloods, a production by Oscar winner Spike Lee. The filming began in March. 

Da 5 Bloods is the third US film in which Vân has appeared.

The concert, Vết Sẹo Cuộc Đời, will be organised on October 30. More contributions are encouraged to send to the organiser via facebook.com/Vetseocuocdoi.ScarOfLife.  VNS