Nhan Dan - The first umbilical cord blood bank will start its operation in Vietnam in late April.

This follows a technology transfer contract signed on March 1 between Vietnam’s Mekophar pharma-chemistry Joint Stock Company and Singapore’s Cordlad Company.

The bank, located in Ho Chi Minh City, will offer hopes for those suffering from diabetes, and skin, nerve and bone diseases.

The bank will store around 3,600 blood samples, taken from newly-born children, who are found uninfected with HIV and hepatitis B, at the demand of their parents.

The samples will be kept for 19-21 years and available for donators and their relatives, if they need for treatment.