Evening of Smiles charity dinner. © VnExpress.
In May 2014, Operation Smile Vietnam hosted the Evening of Smiles, a charity dinner and art auction held at the Park Hyatt Saigon Hotel. The event brought together more than 300 guests and was organised to raise funds for reconstructive surgeries for children born with cleft lips and cleft palates.
Operation Smile is an international non-profit organisation providing free surgical care in developing countries. In Vietnam, the organisation has supported the treatment of over 20,000 children, delivering care through a combination of local and international medical missions in partnership with Vietnamese healthcare professionals.
The Evening of Smiles combined fundraising with a charity auction featuring artworks donated by established Vietnamese artists. Participating artists included Le Thanh Son, Ho Huu Thu, Dang Xuan Hoa, Dinh Quan, Le Thiet Cuong, Nguyen Trung, Hong Viet Dung, and Bui Huu Hung, whose contribution reflected his continued support of Operation Smile’s work, having previously participated the auctions. Proceeds from the evening were allocated directly to Operation Smile Vietnam’s surgical programmes, contributing to the funding of upcoming missions and hospital-based procedures.
Held annually, the Evening of Smiles has become a key fundraising event for Operation Smile Vietnam, drawing support from the medical, cultural, and philanthropic communities. The 2014 edition continued this effort by mobilising private donations and raising awareness of congenital facial conditions that remain under-treated in many parts of the country.
Through such initiatives, Operation Smile Vietnam sustains its long-term commitment to expanding access to safe and timely surgical care, while supporting local medical capacity and improving outcomes for children and families in Vietnam.
