Yellow apricot, a New Year tree popular in southern Vietnam.
NDO – Nhan Dan Online reviews some of the most notable events that made headlines in the past week.
State, Party, Government leaders pay Tet visits
Leaders of the Party, State and Government made Tet visits to residents, authorities, soldiers, religious leaders and other prominent figures in Vietnamese society to wish them a happy Lunar New Year.
The senior leaders expressed hope that the entire country would build on the achievements in 2014 and make greater accomplishments in the year ahead.
During the days ahead of Tet, as a tradition, the top leaders also paid respects to President Ho Chi Minh, the nation’s liberation hero.
Culture and arts events to welcome Lunar New Year across Vietnam
In the former imperial city of Hue, a ceremony to erect cay neu, a tall bamboo tree used to ward off evil spirits during Tet, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, was re-enacted. The 15-metre bamboo pole was carried in a procession from the Hien Nhon Gate through the Thai Hoa Palace to arrive at the Ancestral Temple, where it was put up against a backdrop of ceremonial music and smoke from burning incense.
In Da Nang city, the Bach Dang Spring Flower Street is open along the western bank of the Han river in Da Nang city from February 9 to 27 for the Tet holiday. The street is decorated with 20,000 flower baskets with 50 kinds of flowers, mostly raspberry daisies and colourful chrysanthemums, with yellow as the major theme colour symbolising cosiness and prosperity.
In Hanoi, a calligraphy exhibition opened on February 12 at the Temple of Literature, featuring writings that encourage and praise the values of learning, as part of the Spring Writing Festival organised by the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism.
Vietnamese, Chinese Party leaders conduct phone talks
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed initiatives to foster bilateral co-operation over the phone on February 11, in honour of the approaching Lunar New Year and the 65th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties.
The proposed initiatives focus on facilitating high-level exchanges and actively realising commitments while nurturing co-ordination between the two Parties, agencies, and peoples, especially the younger generations.
During the talks, the two leaders also extended their wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year, and exchanged invitations to visit their respective countries.
Vietnamese, Japanese Prime Minister hold phone talks
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe talked over the phone on February 13 where the Japanese leader conveyed his best wishes to all Vietnamese people on their traditional Lunar New Year.
Both sides expressed delight at the strong development of the bilateral relationship, as evidenced by the upgrade of the ties to the extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia in 2014.
They affirmed they would continue working closely with each other to further co-operation efficiently in all respects, in the interests of the two peoples and for peace, stability, co-operation and development in Asia-Pacific and the world.
Internal commission’s head Nguyen Ba Thanh passes away
Nguyen Ba Thanh, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs, passed away on February 13 in the central city of Da Nang after losing his battle against cancer.
He is loved by Da Nang people for his significant contributions to the coastal city when he served as Chairman of the People’s Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee.
Da Nang authorities announced that the city would cancel all firework shows in the city on the occasion of the Lunar New Year to show respect to Thanh.
ADB lends US$230 million to help Vietnam improve competitiveness
The Asian Development Bank signed a loan agreement worth US$230 million with the Vietnamese Government to support reforms aimed at enhancing Vietnam’s competitiveness. The money will be used to support the Economic Management Competitive Credit Programme, a joint development partner budget support program aligned with the national reform priorities of the Vietnamese Government.
The bank will also loan an additional US$4.2 million for Hanoi’s third urban metro line from Nhon to Hanoi Railway Station, a project designed to help the capital city increase the use of public transport and reduce dependency on private vehicles while promoting low-carbon means of transportation and reducing environmental pollution.
Vietnam tops Southeast Asia in February FIFA ranking
The Vietnam men’s national football team jumped up one place to 132nd in the FIFA World Ranking for February, joining the Philippines to lead the Southeast Asian region with 221 points.
It is the fourth consecutive month Vietnam has enjoyed a heightened position in the world standings. Following Vietnam and the Philippines in Southeast Asia are Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Timor Leste and Brunei.