Location: Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City

Background: The philanthropic Eatery of Smiles chain was established in October 2012 by the former chief editor of HCMC Law Newspaper. The chain is managed by the Tinh Thuong Charity Fund of Ho Chi Minh City and supervised by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City. The eateries offer philanthropic lunches at VND2,000/set (approximately US$0.095) to low-incomers, the disabled, the elderly and disadvantaged students in and around the Ho Chi Minh City area.

BAT sponsorship: In 2013, BAT Vietnam sponsored the establishment of a sixth eatery in Thu Duc district. The eatery has been operating since October 2013, serving an average of 250 lunch sets per day, three days per week. Eighty percent of the customers are low-income workers and 20% are underprivileged students  
                                                                   from the surrounding neighborhood. 

●  Sponsorship value: VND752.64 million (approximately US$36,000)

●  Number of beneficiaries: 3000 per month 

●  Duration of project: October 2013 – October 2014

CSR Day: At least 40 BAT employees spent a day serving at the Eatery of Smiles which is sponsored by BAT Vietnam. The job involved preparing and serving subsidised meals to poor workers and students.