Hanoi Party Secretary Pham Quang Nghi.

Ho Quang Loi, a member of the anniversary organisation board, told a local online newspaper that money for the anniversary were raised from various sources: the state budget, Hanoi budget and the contribution of businesses. 

“It is inaccurate to say that Hanoi spent dozens of trillion dong for the anniversary,” Loi affirmed. 

About the serious gridlocks around the National Stadium of My Dinh on October 10 evening, Loi estimated that hundreds of thousand people flocked to the stadium that night. Many delegates couldn’t join the closing ceremony. “I had to walk for several kilometers in a sea of people to go to the stadium,” he said. 

Regarding the firework explosion on October 6, Loi confirmed that the incident was caused by technical carelessness in preparing for the rehearsal the same day. 

“There were only four deaths, including three foreign experts, and three injured victims, who have recovered and left hospital already. It is a complete fabrication that there are dozens of deaths,” Loi said. 

However, he admitted the blast caused serious consequences. 

Hanoi's Thang Long Avenue - Vietnam's longest avenue.

According to Hanoi’s Vice Chair Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, the city authorities sent a report to the Prime Minister, saying that the anniversary was held safely and economically, attracting many people. 

“The event has improved the capital’s image in the eyes of international friends,” she remarked. 

Hanoi Party Chief Pham Quang Nghi also told VietNamNet that it is groundless to say that the total spending in the anniversary is equivalent to Vietnam’s 10 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). 
 

He said that the construction and inauguration of many great construction works took place during the anniversary, for example the Thang Long avenue, the Hanoi Museum, the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School, Hoa Binh Park and many flower gardens, etc. The investment in these works was trillion dong but nobody said that that’s a waste. 
 

PV