VietNamNet Bridge – “We rejected ten events to save more than 100 billion dong (over $5.2 million). It is incorrect to say that we spent 4-5 trillion dong ($210-263 million) on Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary,” confirmed Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh at the National Assembly meeting on November 1.

The Panorama of Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary

he Minister said that his ministry was assigned the organisation of some of the celebration events this year, including the 80th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 120th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh, the 35th anniversary of the country’s unification, the 65th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day and Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary. 

 

“Our spending were very economical. So far this year, the expenditure has been equivalent to 57.5 percent of the estimated spending, totaling 88 billion dong ($4.6 million),” Minister Tuan Anh said.

He said that people who participated in the parade in the morning of October 1 in Hanoi had to practice for 2-3 months, but they were paid only 25,000 dong ($1.2) a day and 35,000 dong ($1.7) per person on October 1, which was not enough for a meal.

 

“I confirm that there is no financial matter associated with celebration activities, especially Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary. We practiced thrift and rejected ten activities to save more than 100 billion dong. We are willing to provide detailed financial reports,” he said.

Minister Tuan Anh said that celebration activities held in provinces and cities were funded by the local governments and the capital was raised from many sources. Some provinces and sectors were warned from organizing costly activities.

“In the future, festivals and celebration activities will be organized at reasonable scales. We can’t stop holding such events because through these activities, the image of Vietnam is advertised to the world,” Tuan Anh said.

Thuy Chung