Directive No. 01/2007/CT-TTg on organizing the reception of the Year of the Pig 2007 Tet Festival

DIRECTIVE

On organizing the Tet holiday for the year of the Pig 2007 

Throughout the country, the Tet holiday of the year of the Pig this year is celebrated in a joyful and enthusiastic atmosphere due to the achievements and successes of 2006, with confidence in the continued development of the nation. In addition to the inherent difficulties and challenges, the significant losses caused by recent natural disasters, the risk of avian influenza spreading, and the possibility of drought in many regions across the country are pressing issues that cannot be taken lightly. To ensure a joyful, safe, and frugal Tet holiday for the year of the Pig 2007, thereby adding to the enthusiasm and determination to achieve the best possible economic and social development goals for 2007, the Prime Minister requests the Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under the central city to focus on doing the following tasks:

1. Direct agencies and units under their jurisdiction to organize Tet activities joyfully, healthily, and thriftily.

Agencies and units should organize Tet greetings economically, warmly at their offices or workplaces; refrain from organizing visits to greet leaders at various levels. Strictly prohibit the use of state funds, collective funds, or funds from budgetary sources, public funds, or financial support to organize banquets, receptions, or rewards, gifts, grants, and donations not in accordance with the regulations set by the State. Agencies, units, and localities must strictly implement the prohibition on using imported alcohol for receptions and entertaining guests; and not to use official vehicles for personal activities.

Review and inspect work schedules during the Tet holiday, especially for agencies, units, and organizations directly responsible for handling people's and businesses' affairs, ensuring that work does not become stagnant or congested.

Relevant ministries, sectors, and localities need to develop plans to assign leadership, allocate forces, and means to ensure the full, continuous implementation of measures to prevent and control avian influenza, brown planthopper, and rice yellow dwarf disease throughout the Tet holiday period without interruption or relaxation; effectively carry out drought prevention work, ensuring timely planting of winter-spring rice according to the season and sufficient area.

Continue to launch and organize the movement of planting trees in memory of Uncle Ho during the Tet holiday.

2. Closely coordinate with Party organizations, mass organizations, and media agencies to promote and mobilize the people to celebrate Tet joyfully, healthily, and thriftily. Do not organize festivals too early before Tet or extend them excessively after Tet; avoid organizing extravagant feasts that harm health, cause waste, and affect normal production, business, and daily life.

3. Pay special attention to organizing Tet for ethnic minorities living in mountainous, remote, border, and island areas, and those severely affected by recent natural disasters; absolutely prevent food shortages. Organize visits and gift-giving to war invalids, families of martyrs, families with meritorious service, elderly revolutionary veterans, mothers of Vietnam's heroes, and soldiers on duty during Tet. Organize and mobilize assistance for poor families, homeless elderly people, orphaned children, and relatives visiting from afar to ensure everyone can celebrate the traditional Tet holiday happily and warmly.

4. The Ministries of Trade, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry, Finance, People's Committees of centrally governed cities and provinces, and relevant state-owned corporations must closely monitor supply and demand for goods, closely follow market trends, particularly staple foods, essential consumer goods, and other necessities during the Tet holiday to ensure smooth production and circulation of goods, meeting the reasonable consumption needs of the people; prevent shortages of goods, sudden price hikes, and speculative profiteering.

The Vietnam Electricity Corporation must have plans to ensure adequate power production and supply during the Tet holiday and arrange duty shifts to promptly address any electrical emergencies.

The Ministry of Transport shall coordinate with provincial and municipal authorities to direct passenger transport operations to ensure safety, technical quality, and stable fare rates during the Tet holiday.

The National Traffic Safety Committee shall coordinate with the Ministry of Public Security and local People's Committees to focus on ensuring traffic safety on roads, waterways, railways, and apply comprehensive and resolute measures to restore traffic order and reduce traffic accidents during the Tet holiday to the lowest possible level. Pay particular attention to increasing inspections, supervision, and strict penalties for violations of traffic rules and safety.

The sectors of Finance (Customs), Trade (Market Management), Health, Culture and Information, Public Security, and Border Guard Forces shall closely cooperate with all levels of People's Committees to strengthen efforts against illegal trade in prohibited goods, especially fireworks, explosives, dangerous children's toys, and obscene cultural products...

Firmly prevent and promptly handle the transportation and sale of diseased livestock and poultry. Special emphasis should be placed on strengthening inspections and supervision of food safety to prevent mass poisoning incidents.

The Ministry of Public Security shall coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, and provincial and municipal authorities to develop specific plans to ensure social order and security during the Tet holiday; particularly focusing on fire prevention and explosion prevention, curbing illegal street racing in cities; continuing to dismantle criminal gangs causing public disturbances, and addressing social evils; coordinating with the Ministry of Defense and local authorities to ensure absolute security in key areas and crowded entertainment venues; proactively detecting and promptly preventing and thwarting plots by reactionary forces attempting to exploit the Tet holiday to incite unrest and sabotage.

8. The Ministry of Culture - Information and the Sports Committee shall coordinate with localities to organize cultural programs, artistic activities, recreational events, sports competitions, etc., effectively; coordinate with radio and television agencies to arrange joyful and healthy Spring welcoming programs.

The Prime Minister requests Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees under the central government to widely disseminate and direct the implementation of this Directive throughout their agencies, units, and localities.

It is requested that the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and its member organizations cooperate with agencies and authorities at all levels to participate in propaganda, mobilization, and guidance for various strata of the people to implement this Directive well./.