Keep the city peaceful during Tet.

(Baonghean.vn) - During the Lunar New Year of the Goat, the image captured by the people was that of police officers from the Provincial and Vinh City Police forces temporarily setting aside family matters to stand on every road, ensuring peace and security for the people.

Traffic police (Vinh City Police) ensured traffic safety in the Ho Chi Minh Square area on the night of the first day of the Lunar New Year (Year of the Goat).

This Tet holiday, the Nghe An Provincial Police and the Vinh City Police established 9 task forces at 9 checkpoints from the 26th (Lunar Calendar) to the 4th day of the new year to patrol and prevent law violations, with a focus on ensuring traffic safety. The 9 checkpoints (basically) include the Customs roundabout, Ho Chi Minh Square intersection, Phuong Dong Hotel roundabout, Provincial Post Office intersection, Vinh University intersection, in front of Ben Thuy Bridge, Phan Dang Luu - Vo Nguyen Hien intersection, Quan Bau intersection, Quan Banh intersection, and the Vinh bus station area.

On every street in Vinh City during the first days of the new year, we encountered many smiles from the police officers patrolling and ensuring traffic safety during the Lunar New Year of the Goat. Lieutenant Nguyen Xuan Thai - from the Administrative Management Department for Social Order (Nghe An Provincial Police) shared, "This year, we were ordered to be deployed and reinforced for duty during Tet from the 26th (Lunar Calendar) to the 4th day of Tet. My house is in Quan Bau ward, very close by, but because of our duty, we always mentally prepare ourselves to ensure traffic safety so that the people of the city can enjoy a peaceful Spring."

Lieutenant Nguyen Xuan Thai was on duty ensuring traffic safety at the intersection (Ho Chi Minh Square), a very busy location. Ms. Dao Thi Thanh Mai (Vice President of the Nghe An Civil Servants' Union) shared, "We are truly grateful for the efforts of the officers and soldiers of the Provincial and Vinh City Police forces in maintaining peace and security for the city during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Goat. For the past few days, the officers have been on continuous duty and are very tired, so we invited them to rest temporarily in the office's duty room. I also brought homemade ginger jam for them to enjoy, a little warmth of spring."

A traffic police officer (Nghe An Provincial Police) directs traffic at the intersection of Ho Tung Mau and Truong Thi streets.

Day18/2/ 2015Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, requested that the heads of the Traffic Safety Committees of provinces and cities urgently direct local departments and agencies to continue implementing the Prime Minister's directives in the issued official dispatches regarding ensuring traffic safety during the Lunar New Year (Year of the Goat). They should also promptly address public feedback on traffic safety and passenger transport activities via the hotline number provided during the Tet holiday. Provincial and city police forces should mobilize maximum traffic police personnel in coordination with other police forces (public order police, commune police, etc.) to intensify patrols and strictly handle violations of traffic regulations.Traffic safety authorities will pay particular attention to handling violations of regulations regarding blood alcohol concentration; speeding while driving; and not wearing helmets when riding motorcycles, mopeds, and electric bicycles.

Major Nguyen Van Dong, of the Traffic Police Team (Vinh City Police), in charge of the Nguyen Van Cu - Le Hong Phong intersection, shared, "We are very prepared to ensure traffic safety for the people of the city during the Lunar New Year of the Goat. I told my wife, 'This Tet, I will go with the family to wish them a happy new year on the 5th day of the Lunar New Year! Dad is putting aside his own affairs to ensure peace and safety for many others, and that makes me happy!'" It's easy to empathize with her husband, because his wife, Nguyen Thi Loan, is also in the force, working at Department PV 27 (Nghe An Provincial Police). Major Dong recounted, "My family lives in Mau Lam hamlet (Hung Loc - Vinh City), my hometown is in Thanh Duong commune (Thanh Chuong district), and my maternal grandparents live in Quynh Hau (Quynh Luu district). Everything at home has to be arranged by my grandparents and my wife. They are quietly sacrificing their Tet holiday, so that the people can have a warm and joyful day."

A heartwarming sight these days is that of police officers from various agencies, wearing white gloves, guiding people back and forth on every street in the city. Lieutenant Colonel Hoang Duy Ha, Head of the Vinh City Traffic Police Team, said that from the days leading up to the Lunar New Year of the Goat, the officers had clearly defined their duties according to the plan and orders of their superiors. They are ready to perform their duties in all circumstances and weather conditions. Another aspect we observed is the presence of female traffic police officers, who are also constantly on duty, performing their duties on every street. It seems that with the addition of the female traffic police team, traffic congestion has become much smoother.

Traffic police officers (Vinh City Police) ensure traffic flow management in Vinh City.

At the corner of Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Le Hong Phong streets, Mr. Dang Dinh Thai (a 72-year-old teacher residing at 68 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street) shared with us on the morning of the second day of Tet (Lunar New Year) that, "For many years, I have celebrated Tet in Vinh. This year, I walked through many streets of Vinh and found it beautiful and spacious because those in charge have always worked diligently to keep the city peaceful."

Following the former teacher's advice, we ascended to Can Linh Ancestral Temple, crossing the railway overpass at the intersection of National Highway 46 and the North-South railway south of Vinh City, heading towards An Hau Pagoda, encountering Diec Co Tung Lam Pagoda (the once glorious Diec Pagoda), passing Hong Son Temple, and then continuing towards the newly opened, pristine roads and bridges of the city. A moment of reflection, seeing the traces of the past imprinted on the new day. Our ancestors have paved the way and blessed their descendants to continue on the long and wide road to the future.

Cong Manh