Hanoi’s health sector is tasked with taking care of residents in the upcoming Tet holiday (the Lunar New Year) amid the rising number of Covid-19 infections.

Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung at the meeting on Jan 25. Photos: Minh An/ Kinh Te Do Thi

Health workers will be available around the clock during the 9-day holiday, which will fall in early February, according to a meeting chaired by Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung.

The deputy chairman made the request at the meeting on January 25 when local authorities discussed measures to bring the pandemic under control while maintaining activities during the biggest holiday.

Hanoi has reported an average of 3,000 Covid-19 cases per day for the past month, making it the most affected area in Vietnam. However, the high vaccination rate helps bring down the fatalities and more than that, allows the city to reopen the economy. So far, all essential activities have been resumed except for some non-essential services like karaoke and bar.

At the meeting, Dung asked localities to get ready for the vaccination campaign to take place in February to provide the booster shots to residents.

Regarding Tet holiday, Deputy Chairman Dung asked authorities to pay attention to preparing for Tet with significant welfare dedicated to beneficiaries, especially people with merits to the country and vulnerable people.

To ensure a safe holiday, the city will stop the hosting of festivities and large gatherings to ensure safety for the traditional holiday in the city of nine million people.

Accordingly, local authorities need to cooperate with other authorized agencies and the Vietnam Football Federation to ensure security and enforcement of anti-pandemic measures at the match between Vietnam and China, which will take place on February 1 or the first day of the Lunar New Year.

Overview of the meeting on Jan 25.

Hanoi’s cultural diplomacy

Concerning the whole year’s missions, the deputy chairman asked localities to focus on socio-cultural goals with a focus on Program No.6, No.7, and No.8 in the city’s Development Programs for 2021-2025.

Program No.6 concentrates on improving cultural development and human resources, and maintaining the style of elegant Hanoians; Program No.7 is aimed at boosting the development of science and technology and creativeness, including enhancing the city’s digitalization; and Program No.8 targets to improve social welfare and living standards of local residents.  

In a related move, Deputy Chairman Chu Xuan Dung in mid-January signed a document on implementing the city’s cultural diplomacy strategy for the 2022-2026 period and vision to 2030. Under which, Hanoi will spread its culture and image to indirectly boost trade, tourism and industry, at the same time absorb the world’s cultural values.

The efforts are aimed at making Hanoi’s titles “Hanoi – City for Peace” and “Hanoi – Creative City” better known.

Hanoi’s strategy is part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy launched in 2009 and was immediately considered an important strategy supporting the country’s regional and global ambitions.

Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, trust and relationship-building.

Hence, Hanoi’s move is ostensibly the driving force in its strategy towards integration.