VietNamNet Bridge – During the working hours, tens of state employees of the Department of Trade and Industry of Vinh Long province left their office to attend a welcome party of their new boss. The department’s officials were asked to review and learn from experience of this case.



The Vinh Long Department of Trade and Industry was deserted
at 4.15pm on September 14.



This morning, September 17, the Vinh Long Provincial Party Committee asked Mr. Nguyen Minh Tho, the newly-appointed director of the Department of Trade and Industry to explain about the party that was organized on September 14.

It is reported that this party was organized to welcome Tho as the new director. As the party was held on the working hours, all employees of the Department of Trade and Industry were absent from the office to participate in the party.

The provincial Party Committee also asked the department’s top officials to review and learn from experience because this incident “caused bad public opinion".

Previously, at 4.15pm on September 14, local people went to the Vinh Long Department of Trade and Industry to work but all divisions of the department were closed. More than half an hour later, an official drove a motorcycle to the office to tell the people who were waiting in front of the gate that his bosses were taking part in a party at the Ngan Vinh restaurant in Ward 4, Vinh Long City.



Ngan Vinh Restaurant, where the party was held.



The new director, Mr. Tho, told a local newspaper that he officially assumed the position in the morning of September 14. As being proposed by the department’s officials and employees, the same day the agency held a farewell party to the former director, Mr. Ho Van Huan at a restaurant because the department did not have a kitchen.

According to Mr. Tho, the restaurant owned by an official of the Department of Industry and Trade so the service fee was free of charge. They had to pay only $4 million ($200) to buy food. The food and drink for the party was paid by officials of the Vinh Long Market Control Bureau.

According to the head of the Vinh Long Department of Trade and Industry, the party was organized during the working hours because is to take advantage of time to show gratitude to their predecessor. Mr. Tho promised to not let similar cases happen in the future.

Compiled by Le Ha