On the morning of 19 January, at the head office of the Department of Culture and Sports, the People’s Committee of Ha Noi had a meeting with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) on the issues in celebration of the Party and Spring activities, the organization and management of festivals in the area of Ha Noi. Attending the meeting were MCST Deputy Minister Nguyen Duy Bien, Ha Noi People’s Committee’s vice Chairman Le Hong Son together with leaders representing the functional departments and units under MCST, Ha Noi People’s Committee and Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports.
In the last days of 2015, Ha Noi People’s Committee has proactively begun preparations for the holding of cultural, art and sports activities in celebration of the new year of solar calendar 2016, the 86th founding anniversay of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the lunar new year of Binh Than. Under the plan, the People’s Committee is to lead a delegation to pay tributes to Late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and commemorate the heroic martyrs; coordinating with central and local art troupes to organize art, sports shows at the stage of Ly Thai To monument public garden, the centres of the districts of Ha Dong, Tay Ho, Son Tay town and the front area of My Dinh stadium; opening fireworks at 31 sites along with cultural art performances; holding newspapers fair, photo exhibition, displayof books, film festival week to meet people’s needs; holding get-togethers with overseas Vietnamese delegates who have been back for Tet festival at homeland and representatives of the international organizations in Ha Noi, personalities, intellectuals, writers and artists; fulfilling the favour-repay activities, ensuring the social security and safety, fire prevention, smooth transportation, good health service, food safety, smuggling and fake goods control in service of the Haoians.
As regulated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Propaganda and Education Committee and relevant agencies, the People’s Committee has put forth directive guidances in the setting up of decoration and visual propaganda posters aclosely associated with the lighting system within the city, especially along the main roads, at populous areas, city’s entrances as Hoan Kiem lake, Ba Dinh Square, August Revolutionary Square, headquarters of the Party, State and Government Agencies inbetween the period from 10 January to 15 February, 2016.
Regarding the organization and management of festivals, the People’s Committee will convene a press briefing to make pulic a series of big long-lasting festivals of the city; enhance propaganzing and calling on local people and tourists to abide by the rules on civilized way of life, refraining from burning joss sticks and votive papers in relics. At the same time, the Peoples’ Committee will give directions to local organizers that when holding the event more stress should be placed on the part of ceremony in line with conservation and promotion of the fine traditions and cultural values, removing or substituting unsound customs and practices. And the part of festival should be joyful, wholesome, diverse formalities, suitable with the sizes, natures and features of each festivity. Cultural activities, traditional folk art performances, environmental and landscaping protection and abolishment of superstitions will also encouraged.
Deputy Director of Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Khac Loi presenting organizational plan of celebrating Party and Spring activities and Festival holding and Management in Ha Noi 2016
According to Deputy Director of Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports Nguyen Khac Loi, at present, there are more than 1000 festivities of differrent sizes on the area of Ha Noi city which mainly take place in the Spring. Out of that number, there are many festivals of regional level size, namely Dong Da Mount Festival, Giong Festival, Soc Temple Festival, Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival, Perfume Pagoda Festival. The annual holding of festivals has been under the concret direction and guidance of Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports. Besides, The Department has worked closely with the Inspectorate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Grassroots Cultural Management Department to check the preservation of relics and organizational management of festivals so as to reorganize and rectify shortcomings and constraints identified, then the localities might have them corrected.
Vice Minister of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vuong Duy Bien Exchanges on issues of Festival Management
Discussing at the meeting, the Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Director of the Grassroots Cultural Management Department, Director of Heritage Management, Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism all noted that the important matter needs to be resolved is not to let the festivals be commercialized and the supersititons happen. It needs to be specific guidances on the catering of services during festivals such as vehicle keeping, small note changing, shopping and restaurants; no touting occurs; fire and explosion prevention and environmental sanitation should be ensured; multiform propaganda should be further intensified among people, with particular concern on historical and cultural values of the relics and festival significance.
Vice Chairman of Ha Noi People’s Committee Le Hong Son responding To Leader of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
In response to the remarks of the leader of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vice Chairman of Ha Noi People’s Committe Le Hong Son expressed his wish to receive continued support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in the organization and management of festivals in Ha Noi, so that they will be safe, joyful and exciting for all people.
Dat Minh