Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc required the promptresumption of work immediately after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, endingthe outdated thinking that the first lunar month is a time for festivals.
  
Chairing a meeting between the Government’s standing board and some ministriesand sectors on February 21, the first working day after the week-long Tet holiday, the PM commended the good preparation for Tet, thelargest festival in a year of Vietnamese.

Hesaid supply of goods was ensured, prices were kept stable, with due supportgiven to disadvantaged groups. Average Tet bonus for workers increased by 13percent, while farmers’ income also improved.

PMPhuc also hailed the work of the armed forces, the health sector, the media andother agencies in ensuring an abundant and safe holiday for the people, citingthe example of a policeman who died and five others who were wounded doingtheir duty.  

However, he expressed concern about the large number of traffic accidents despite areduction compared to previous years, as well as the abuse of alcohol andfirecrackers.

He stressed that the administration at all levels, all sectors, all units must setout on specific tasks immediately.

TheMinistries of Planning and Investment, Finance, Industry and Trade, and theState Bank must keep close watch on the macro economic situation, prices andmarket fluctuations in order to take timely actions to maintain macro-economicstability and control inflation, the PM instructed.  

He requested Cabinet members to monitor the situation in fields and units undertheir management, and urgedcontinued administrative procedure reform and improvement of investment andbusiness environment to stimulate production activities, in line with the mottoof the Government in 2018.

Minister – Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung presented a report,affirming that the Tet holiday tookplace in a joyful and safe atmosphere across the country. Purchasing powerduring the period increased by 12-15 percent from normal days, the report said.

Farmers in many localities resumedworking from the third day of the first lunar month to keep up with cultivationschedule.

Thereport highlighted a surge in tourism in many areas, with the number ofvisitors to most key tourism sites going up 15-20 percent compared to theprevious Tet.

TheMinistry of Public Security and the National Committee for Traffic Safetyreported that political security and social order and safety were maintainedacross the country. There were 218 traffic accidents during the seven-dayholiday from February 14 to 20, a reduction of 150 cases year-on-year, whilethe number of deaths went down by 8 to 195.–VNA