Nguyen Thanh Tai, deputy chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee explains to Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper why HCM City won’t launch fireworks in the city this Tet (lunar new year).
A lot of people do not agree with the People’s Committee plan to cancel fireworks this new year’s eve. How do you respond?
We will save VND1.5 billion (US$93,750) with no fireworks. The money will go to victims of recent typhoons. The People’s Committee discussed and considered all aspects of the action and decided that our priority was to think about the poor.
People think that launching fireworks on the eve of the Tet festival, shifting from the old year to the year, is not only emotionally significant but also marks the beginning of a happy and prosperous new year. Many believe that there are other ways to help the poor, besides cancelling the fireworks.
I respect and listen to the city’s residents. I don’t deny the idea that after a whole year working they need time to relax and enjoy themselves. But entertainment is not only setting off fireworks. Some people say that VND1.5 billion is not a large sum of money to contribute to the poor, but to the poor even a few thousand dong is appreciated. Tuoi tre newspaper mounted a long-term campaign to get some billions allocated to building the Dang Thuy Tram health clinic in the province of Quang Ngai, where I have been in a programme to build houses for the poor.
Some have offered to donate their own money to pay for the fireworks. What do you think about this?
I appreciate this idea, but we hope that the people can understand and support the city People’s Committee’s decision. I must tell you that the city wants not only to save money from fireworks but from other fields to help people.
Couldn’t you launch the fireworks in one location instead of four locations as usual? Then television could make it live for everyone. A lot of foreigners also like to watch the fireworks in Viet Nam.
We had discussed this idea. But setting off fireworks in only one location would make others envy. Also, if people concentrate in one place to see the fireworks, we would be faced with a huge crowd and have to deal with an unpredictable situation.
Foreigners don’t come to Viet Nam to see the fireworks because fireworks being set off in their own countries is a normal event. On their new year, according to the solar calendar, the city had a celebration in the Bui Vien area, where many foreigners live. The city shows its respect and hospitality to them.
The city’s decision is for the whole community as well as for the nation’s poor.
So there won’t be fireworks. How can people mark this special moment in the year?
On the eve of Tet, the city will open Nguyen Hue Flower Road with a special programme. It has invested billions of dong with many strange and new activities that millions can enjoy over many days instead of during the 15 minutes of fireworks. Furthermore, the city has spent VND600 million ($37,500) on festivals in many parts of the city. Banh tet [traditional rice cake in the south filled with green bean paste and fat pork] festival this year will have many changes.
Without fireworks, Tet will still come to every house. — VNS
A lot of people do not agree with the People’s Committee plan to cancel fireworks this new year’s eve. How do you respond?
We will save VND1.5 billion (US$93,750) with no fireworks. The money will go to victims of recent typhoons. The People’s Committee discussed and considered all aspects of the action and decided that our priority was to think about the poor.
People think that launching fireworks on the eve of the Tet festival, shifting from the old year to the year, is not only emotionally significant but also marks the beginning of a happy and prosperous new year. Many believe that there are other ways to help the poor, besides cancelling the fireworks.
I respect and listen to the city’s residents. I don’t deny the idea that after a whole year working they need time to relax and enjoy themselves. But entertainment is not only setting off fireworks. Some people say that VND1.5 billion is not a large sum of money to contribute to the poor, but to the poor even a few thousand dong is appreciated. Tuoi tre newspaper mounted a long-term campaign to get some billions allocated to building the Dang Thuy Tram health clinic in the province of Quang Ngai, where I have been in a programme to build houses for the poor.
Some have offered to donate their own money to pay for the fireworks. What do you think about this?
I appreciate this idea, but we hope that the people can understand and support the city People’s Committee’s decision. I must tell you that the city wants not only to save money from fireworks but from other fields to help people.
Couldn’t you launch the fireworks in one location instead of four locations as usual? Then television could make it live for everyone. A lot of foreigners also like to watch the fireworks in Viet Nam.
We had discussed this idea. But setting off fireworks in only one location would make others envy. Also, if people concentrate in one place to see the fireworks, we would be faced with a huge crowd and have to deal with an unpredictable situation.
Foreigners don’t come to Viet Nam to see the fireworks because fireworks being set off in their own countries is a normal event. On their new year, according to the solar calendar, the city had a celebration in the Bui Vien area, where many foreigners live. The city shows its respect and hospitality to them.
The city’s decision is for the whole community as well as for the nation’s poor.
So there won’t be fireworks. How can people mark this special moment in the year?
On the eve of Tet, the city will open Nguyen Hue Flower Road with a special programme. It has invested billions of dong with many strange and new activities that millions can enjoy over many days instead of during the 15 minutes of fireworks. Furthermore, the city has spent VND600 million ($37,500) on festivals in many parts of the city. Banh tet [traditional rice cake in the south filled with green bean paste and fat pork] festival this year will have many changes.
Without fireworks, Tet will still come to every house. — VNS
