VietNamNet Bridge – Traditional festivals will be scored for the first time for their content, management as well as their compliance with the laws by state agencies and newspapers.

Visitors to Huong Pagoda Festival 2014 in Hanoi

The plan was proposed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. According to the ministry, local authorities, newspapers and magazines and higher state agencies will give festivals a percentage score.

The festivals will be given marks for their management, execution of their plan, how quick can the organisers deal with violations and compliance with the laws and ministry's guidance.

Depending on the scores that the local organisers and their festivals will be categorised into four groups. Group A is for festivals with 95 to 100 marks, festivals score 85 to 94 are in group B and festivals with 51 to 84 marks are in group C. Group D includes those with less than 50 marks.

The ministry hopes that by giving marks to local festivals, they can tighten the management and prevent illegal activities or disturbing rituals such as the annual Pig Slaughter Ceremony in Bac Ninh Province.

Pig Slaughter Ceremony in Bac Ninh Province

However, many people expressed concerns over the practicality of the plan. Vietnam has about 8,000 festivals in 63 cities and provinces. It will be difficult for the state agencies as well as representatives of newspapers to attend all these festivals. That's why they should focus on major festivals or events that are said to have serious problems.