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Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 13 September 2025 – UOB Vietnam brought together more than 2,000 colleagues, their families, customers and business partners at the 2025 UOB Heartbeat Run, held at P2 Park, Phu My Hung, Ho Chi Minh City. Now in its eighth year in Vietnam, the Bank’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) event raised a record of more than VND 940 million to support digital education for underprivileged children in the Mekong Delta. The initiative is part of UOB Vietnam’s five-year commitment, launched in 2023, to expand access to digital learning in the region.
The funds raised will be channelled to Saigon Children’s Charity CIO to equip three computer rooms that provide for nearly 2,000 students at Luong The Vinh, Vo Truong Toan and Nguyen Van Troi Secondary Schools in An Giang province. This forms part of UOB Vietnam’s five-year commitment to equip five computer rooms for students in the Mekong Delta by 2027.
More than 2,000 UOB Vietnam employees, along with their families, customers, and business partners rallied together at the 2025 UOB Heartbeat Run event in Vietnam
The event featured 3km, 5km and 10km runs, alongside a vibrant line-up of activities for all ages, including music performances, interactive games and a charity fair. For every kilometre completed, UOB Vietnam pledged to donate VND 30,000 to the UOB Heartbeat Fund in Vietnam.
In the lead-up to the Run, UOB Vietnam colleagues organised a series of fundraising activities over the past two months. These included a singing talent show, sales of eco-friendly UOB Heartbeat T-shirts made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, crossbody bags, tote bags and hand-sewn plush toys crafted by persons with disabilities. A charity fair was also jointly run by UOB Vietnam colleagues, partners and customers at the event, with all proceeds donated to the UOB Heartbeat Fund.
UOB Vietnam raises a record of more than VND 940 million through the 2025 UOB Heartbeat Run.
Mr Victor Ngo, CEO of UOB Vietnam, said: "As we celebrate UOB’s 90th anniversary and reaffirm our long-term commitment to Vietnam’s growth having been operating here for more than 30 years, we remain steadfast in our promise to do right by the communities we serve. The UOB Heartbeat Run is a powerful demonstration of how we can create meaningful impact together with our colleagues, customers and partners. Through our five-year programme, we aim to expand digital learning opportunities for children in the Mekong Delta, equipping them with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy."
Since the commitment was made in 2023, and through the Bank’s partnership with Saigon Children’s Charity CIO, UOB Vietnam has supported the installation of three computer rooms that provide for nearly 1,100 students at Tri Ton Primary School and Nguyen Binh Khiem Secondary School in An Giang province, improving students’ access to digital education.
Mr Damien Roberts, Executive Director of Saigon Children’s Charity CIO, shared:
“We are grateful for UOB’s long-standing partnership and continued commitment to improving the lives of disadvantaged children in Vietnam. Over the past years, our collaboration has delivered meaningful results, giving students better access to digital education and the tools they need to build a brighter future. We look forward to continuing this impactful journey together and empowering even more children in the years ahead.”
The UOB Heartbeat Run is a key part of UOB’s CSR programme held across 19 markets. It reflects the Bank’s commitment to creating lasting good through corporate philanthropy, stakeholder partnerships and employee engagement. Since its inception in 2007, the programme has raised more than S$23 million to support causes aligned with UOB’s CSR focus areas of art, children and education.
UOB Vietnam commenced operations officially on 2nd July 2018. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UOB, a leading bank in Asia with a global network of more than 470 branches and offices in 19 markets in Asia Pacific, Europe and North America.
UOB has been in Vietnam for 30 years, started from a representative office in 1993 and became the first Singapore bank to launch a branch in the country in 1995. Today, UOB Vietnam offers a range of personal and institutional financial services to both Vietnamese and overseas customers across the country backed by the seamless connectivity offered through UOB’s regional network. In 2019, UOB Vietnam expanded into northern Vietnam with a branch in Hanoi. With the completion of the acquisition of Citibank Vietnam’s consumer banking business early 2023, UOB now has a total five branches in Ho Chi Minh city and Hanoi.
Over more than eight decades, generations of UOB employees have carried through the entrepreneurial spirit, the focus on long-term value creation and an unwavering commitment to do what is right for our customers and our colleagues.
We believe in being a responsible financial services provider and we are committed to making a difference in the lives of our stakeholders and in the communities in which we operate. Just as we are dedicated to helping our customers manage their finances wisely and to grow their businesses, UOB is steadfast in our support of social development, particularly in the areas of art, children and education.
