When the Prime Minister 'apologized to the people' and personally went to the market

I hope that the Prime Minister will spend more time getting close to the people and listening to their opinions because only through the "people's channel" can the head of the Government get objective, honest, hot information and not be "made good" by his subordinates.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at Long Bien market on the morning of September 27.

On the morning of September 27, before working with the Hanoi People's Committee on food safety, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam inspected Long Bien wholesale market. Here, the Prime Minister visited a number of stalls, talked with traders at the market and reminded businesses to buy and sell vegetables, agricultural products and food with clear origins, safe for consumers.

“Business people need to maintain business ethics and not buy and sell fruits that are soaked in preservatives, contain toxic chemicals, of unknown origin, and are harmful to the health of consumers and themselves for profit,” said the Prime Minister.

The early morning market trip, though sudden, did not surprise the locals, perhaps because many people were familiar with the Prime Minister's close-to-the-people style since he was Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee, before joining the Government.

Just recently, when the motorcade accompanying the Prime Minister entered Hoi An ancient town, public opinion reflected that, although he was not in the car (the Prime Minister walked), he "had to apologize to the people, hoping for their understanding" and accepted "the Prime Minister's responsibility for not managing the working delegation well".

Not only did he apologize, immediately after that, the Prime Minister asked the Government Office to issue regulations on the participation of local government leaders in working delegations. Accordingly, leaders of provinces and cities will not organize to welcome the delegation on the way, but only organize to welcome them at the working destination, except for the police force that guides the way.

The members of the provincial and municipal delegation shall not exceed 3 cars (including the shared car of the Secretary, Chairman and the shared car of other departments and agencies upon request); Deputy Ministers and below, other members of the delegation shall travel in a shared car arranged by the Government Office (the Minister may travel in a private car).

A somewhat harsh and tough decision. However, it clearly demonstrates the motto of “practice and words” as stated in the Prime Minister’s inaugural speech.

Back to the market trip, of course, the Prime Minister went to the market not to shop like a housewife but to be close to the people, understand the people, and encourage the people. A Western writer who has been to Vietnam for many years said that if you want to understand a land, you definitely have to go to the market at least once because the market not only shows the development of the economy and social relationships but also the culture of the Vietnamese people.

In other words, the market is a mirror reflecting all aspects of life in a land.

However, the Prime Minister's visit to the market also had a more specific and deeper purpose, which was to check documents for the meeting with Hanoi City on this issue that morning.

“Apologize to the people”, correct defects, go directly to the market to inspect… That is the spirit of being close to the people, listening to the people to build an honest government.

According to Dan Tri