VietNamNet Bridge – Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong and Ha Noi authorities planted trees in the capital's Hoa Binh (Peace) Park on Sunday – the fourth day of the Lunar New Year.


Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong (second right) and Ha Noi authorities plant trees big and small in Ha Noi Peace Park on Monday, Feb 7.
Speaking at the launch of this year's Tree Planting Festival, Chairman of the Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen The Thao said that on the occasion of the New Year of the Rat 51 years ago, President Ho Chi Minh launched the first-ever Tree Planting Festival and called on people from all walks of life across the country to plant trees and forests.


Since then, the festival had become a traditional cultural feature of the Vietnamese people with the arrival of spring, the mayor said.


In 2010, Ha Noi planted 1.5 million trees and more than 200ha of forests, and maintained and protected over 9,000ha of protective forest.


Many businesses and local residents worked together to plant trees and upgrade lakes and parks in a move to make the capital city more green, clean and beautiful, Thao added.


During the new year festival, Party leader Trong, President Nguyen Minh Triet and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited ministries, organisations and localities to offer Tet wishes.


A series of festivities were held around the nation to celebrate the lunar new year.


A traditional chess game, which was held by the Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the Temple of Literature in Ha Noi, wrapped up on Sunday with 80-year-old Nguyen Dac Dinh from Tu Liem District being crowned the winner.


Calligraphy, one of many cultural activities that attracted visitors to the Temple of Literature during the Lunar New Year festival. Other festivals marked the legendary Mother of Viet Nam, Au Co, whose children started the spread of the Vietnamese civilisation. (Photo: VNS)
Meanwhile, regattas were held in the Central Highland province of Dak Lak, southern Dong Nai Province and central Quang Ngai Province.


HCM City authorities visited veterans, poor households, industrial zone workers and social welfare services beneficiaries to present gifts during the Tet festival.


The city provided more than VND300 billion (US$15.3 million) in financial support to poor citizens and encouraged individuals, organisations and businesses to join charitable activities.


The High Command of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum reported that more than 20,000 people visited the mausoleum during Tet, half of whom were foreigners.


VietNamNet/Viet Nam News