National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan presented gifts to children with cancer under treatment at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi on February 5, 2018 (Photo: VNA)

It’s common practice in Vietnam to help the poor in the lead-up to Tet.

Tet of sharing

Millions of gift sets were delivered to the poor in remote and disadvantaged areas nationwide. In Kontum province, more 34,000 poor and near-poor households were given rice and money to welcome the New Year. A festival of green sticky rice square cakes was held for ethnic villagers in Kon Tum. A Nhap, Vice Chairman of the Dak Blo border commune People’s Committee, one of the poorest communes of the province, said: “We have made lists of poor and policy beneficiary households to deliver gifts to. All these poor households will welcome Tet with sufficient food.” 

Vo Binh Tan, Deputy Director of the Khanh Hoa provincial Department of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs, said victims of natural disasters will be taken care of: “The provincial People’s Committee has directed rice provision and the lists of rice recipients. A local charity fund is working with us to help the poor enjoy the Tet holiday.”

Local authorities, businesses, and social organizations have coordinated their efforts to make the Tet holiday enjoyable for everyone. Many companies have organized pre-Tet performances and provided buses to carry disadvantaged workers home free of charge. In Hanoi, Dinh Quoc Toan, President of the Trade Union of Hanoi Industrial and Export Processing Zones, said: “We have ordered grassroots trade unions to take good care of workers ahead of the Tet holiday. An art program was held to remind workers of family reunion during Tet. We have also arranged for buses to take workers to their home village for the holiday.”

Young people have taken part in charity activities. Nguyen Duy Minh, Secretary of the Da Nang city Youth Union, said: “The gifts are not expensive, but they reflect the young people’s concern for helping poor people celebrate Tet. We have worked with the city’s Youth Federation to present square sticky rice cakes to centers for child protection and workers who are unable to welcome Tet in their home village.”

Spreading joy

Thanks to donations from authorities, businesses, and social organizations, 2 million poor people have sufficient Tet food. A Kin, a resident of Dak Dong village, Kon Tum province, said he was happy to move into a new house donated by local authorities and neighbors: “Now I have a home and I feel happy. Previously, we led a difficult life in a makeshift house. Now the State has helped me build a new house, I am very thankful. We will work harder to make our lives better.”

Chang Ha Phu, a resident of Ma Lay Chai commune, Lai Chau province, shared joy at receiving a Tet gift: “We are very happy on this occasion because we have received gifts from the State. I hope that the Party and State will continue to pay attention to people in border areas so we will have enough food for Tet.”