Soc Trang province has built over 2,000 houses to the tune of VND 13 billion (US $812,500) for poor Khmer ethnic families in 2007, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

The agency said that the funding was sourced from the Government’s Programme 134 regarding housing for the poor as well as donations in cash and land from local agencies, organisations and people.

Over the past three years, the province has built houses for nearly 10,000 poor families under the programme. Of the families, 5,500 received an additional two breeding cows worth VND 10 million to improve household economy.