Auction of diplomatic memorabilia raises 430 million VND to support child cancer patients.

A diplomatic memento of historical and special friendship value was successfully auctioned at the Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Friendship Golf Tournament 2025, raising 430 million VND to support child cancer patients.

A bottle of Maotai liquor was auctioned for 430 million VND at the Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Friendship Golf Tournament 2025 - PHOTO: SPVN

The item being auctioned is a bottle of Maotai liquor with an alcohol content of 52%, containing rare ginseng root and other natural medicinal herbs not available on the market.

This bottle of wine is associated with the milestone of normalizing relations between Vietnam and China in the early 1990s. In 1994, during a visit to Shanghai by a delegation from Ho Chi Minh City led by Party Secretary Vo Tran Chi, a friendly cooperation agreement between Ho Chi Minh City and Shanghai was signed, marking an important step in the development of relations between the two cities.

Following the signing ceremony, Mr. Vo Viet Thanh - then Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City - was presented with this bottle of wine by Mr. Ngo Bang Quoc, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Party Committee (later Chairman of the National People's Congress of China), as a diplomatic gift symbolizing friendship.

For 31 years, Mr. Vo Viet Thanh cherished this memento as a memento of his time working and contributing to society. In 2025, he decided to donate the rare bottle of wine to the organizers of the Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Friendship Golf Tournament, hoping to transform the sentimental value of this diplomatic memento into practical support for underprivileged children.

With a starting bid of 100 million VND, the memorabilia was successfully auctioned off, raising 430 million VND, with all proceeds donated to programs supporting child cancer patients.

This auction took place within the framework of the Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam 2025 Friendship Golf Tournament, held on December 12th at Taekwang Jeongsan Golf Course (Nhon Trach, Dong Nai ).

The tournament, which brings together more than 100 Vietnamese and international golfers, is an annual event organized by Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage Company Limited to raise funds for healthcare, education, and community support programs.

Golfers participating in the Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Friendship Golf Tournament 2025 - PHOTO: SPVN

A highlight of the 2025 Friendship Golf Tournament is the fundraising auction themed "Drive the Future Forward." The auctioned items are rich in sentimental and historical value.

From children's drawings participating in the "Mizuiku - Water Conservation, Nurturing the Future" program, to Suntory Global Spirits' liquor collection, a Johnnie Walker Blue Label bottle signed by golf legend Greg Norman, and a bottle of Maotai liquor aged for over 31 years, all connected to the story of friendly cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Shanghai.

This year, the total amount raised from the program reached nearly 3.22 billion VND, contributing to community activities supporting sick children as well as other social programs.

Previously, according to the organizers, from 2007 to the present, through the Friendship Golf Tournament, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam and its partners have raised more than 22 billion VND, supporting heart surgery for children, treating hundreds of child cancer patients, building medical and educational facilities, and implementing many social welfare programs nationwide.

HUY DANG - Ngan Ha

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dau-gia-ky-vat-ngoai-giao-thu-430-trieu-dong-ho-tro-benh-nhi-ung-thu-20251213144523452.htm