VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on February 19 chaired a cabinet meeting with central ministries and sectors to review the situation during the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival.

Photo: VNA

Dung praised the combined efforts to ensure a happy and safe Tet for people while asking ministries, sectors and localities to pay more attention to traffic issue, and reproaching several localities where firecrackers were still set off during the festival despite the ban.

Drastic measures were taken to ensure the sufficient supply of essential goods, keep the market prices in check, ease traffic congestion, facilitate cultural and tourism activities and provide care for the poor and social policy beneficiaries, he said.

Under the President and the Prime Minister’s decisions, Tet gifts had been handed over to nearly 1.9 million people credited with revolutionary services and 24,000 tonnes of rice were sent to 15 provinces to help needy people. In addition, local authorities nationwide also offered Tet gifts worth more than VND 807 billion for social welfare beneficiaries.

Business and production activities were maintained in accordance to schedules despite the long holiday. The number of international tourists visiting Vietnam during the festival soared by 10-15 percent against the same period last year.

However, traffic jams still occurred in some localities and visitors ignored regulations on hygiene and safety at many tourist sites and spring festivals.

During the 9-day festival, 681 criminal cases were reported nationwide, down by 4.76 percent from the previous Tet holiday. 373 traffic accidents left 314 people dead and 387 others injured.

The PM asked ministries, sectors and localities to double their efforts to fulfill socio-economic tasks set for this year and effectively implement the government’s resolutions.

In regard to future tasks, the PM underlined the need to help businesses iron snags, control inflation, resolve bad debts, keep the prices of essential goods stable, and boost agricultural production.

Source: VOV