Hanh Trinh (The Journey), ashort film by Vietnamese-American director Cuong Ngo, was released incinemas one June 1, marking International Children's Day.

The film, featuring the life and dreams of a rural girl with acongenital heart defect, aims to raise funds for Heartbeat Vietnam,a programme of the VinaCapital Foundation that helps poor children inneed of heart surgery.

The idea for Hanh Trinh originatedfrom the real life story of Cao Hung Vy, a boy from the Tay Nguyen(Central Highlands) province of Gia Lai, who was born with aserious congenital heart defect, said the film's producer, actor andsinger Ngo Thanh Van.

"Vy's family had no money to get him a surgery, which costs 2,500 USD, in order to survive and lead a normal life.

"Vy's mother and he set out on a journey from their hometown to HCMCity , hoping to find help. They met our programme's members bychance, and the boy received his second chance at life," said Van,ambassador for Heartbeat Vietnam .

Based on Vy's story, Hanh Trinh sends a message of love and compassion that bind people together.

"Our film is for 20,000 children in Vietnam who are waiting for heartsurgeries," said Van after the film's premiere in HCM City onFriday. She also appears in the film.

The 30-minute film stars Nhu Quynh and young actress Lan Ngoc.

On a cinema forum, a fan in HCM City recently wrote: "Hanh Trinhis short but left a strong impression on audiences, thanks to ameaningful story, perfect images and music. It was like a song in praiseof the inner strength of people."

All proceeds from the film's ticket sales will be sent directly to Heartbeat.

Since 2006, Heartbeat has saved over 2,700 children. This year theprogramme has on its waiting list over 1,000 children consideredcritically ill and in need of urgent surgery.-VNA