Highlights of domestic events this past week

(Baonghean.vn)ButCelebrating the 87th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam;President Tran Dai Quang attends the Tich Dien Festival.The regular Government meeting in January 2017;... were among the prominent domestic events of the past week.

1. Commemorating the 87th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Illustrative image.

On February 3rd, throughout the country, the entire Party, people, and army celebrated the 87th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Over the past eighty-seven years, under the correct and wise leadership of the Party, our country and our people have achieved glorious victories and created miracles in the 20th century: the successful August Revolution of 1945, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam; the glorious Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954, shaking the world; the victorious Ho Chi Minh Campaign, completely liberating the South and unifying the country in 1975...

From a country under colonial rule, Vietnam has become an independent, sovereign, unified, and territorially integral nation, constantly striving for progress in construction, development, innovation, and international integration. From a poor, backward country, heavily affected by war and subjected to embargoes, Vietnam has made efforts to eradicate poverty, improve people's lives, focus on economic, cultural, and social development, implement industrialization and modernization, and proactively integrate into the international community.

The Year of the Rooster has arrived, a new year filled with hopes and faith in the bright future of the country in the coming stages. Celebrating the 87th anniversary of the founding of the Party, and proud of the glorious Party, every cadre, Party member, and Vietnamese citizen understands even more clearly their responsibility in contributing to building a cleaner and stronger Party to continue leading the country in accelerating industrialization, modernization, and international integration.

2. President Tran Dai Quang attends the Tich Dien Festival.

The President and local leaders used specialized plows to perform the ritual of plowing the fields at the beginning of the year, praying for a bountiful harvest.

On the morning of February 3rd (the 7th day of the Lunar New Year of the Rooster), thousands of people flocked to Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province to watch the "king" go down to the fields to plow, praying for national peace and prosperity, and a bountiful harvest... This year, the Tich Dien festival also officially received recognition as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Attending the 2017 Tich Dien Festival were President Tran Dai Quang; former Vice President and President of the Vietnam Association for the Promotion of Learning Nguyen Thi Doan, along with leaders from central ministries and agencies, leaders of Ha Nam province, departments and agencies, and a large number of local people and tourists from all over the country.

President Tran Dai Quang and former Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, along with leaders of central ministries and agencies, and leaders of Ha Nam province, offered incense at the ancestral altars of King Le Dai Hành and the God of Agriculture.

Speaking at the 2017 Doi Son Tich Dien Festival, President Tran Dai Quang affirmed: “The Tich Dien Festival has become a beautiful aspect of community cultural life, recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the State. This festival carries profound agricultural promotion significance, highlighting the role of farmers. The drumbeats on the opening day of the Tich Dien Festival have urged people to start the new planting season... This is also a cultural and tourism activity promoting the land and people of Ha Nam…”.

3. Regular Government Meeting, January 2017

Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

On the morning of February 3rd, at the Government Headquarters, presiding over the regular Government meeting for January, after hearing various opinions, the Prime Minister concluded: The entire political system has actively participated in ensuring a peaceful Tet holiday for the people, especially focusing on caring for the poor, policy beneficiary families, disaster-stricken areas, and workers. We have provided nearly 15,000 tons of rice and hundreds of billions of VND in support to people in need.

Basic security and public order were ensured. Goods were readily available for Tet (Lunar New Year), and prices remained stable. The CPI in January increased by only 0.46% (compared to December 2016). The Tet duty roster for administrative agencies was guaranteed.

"The information reported by relevant agencies to the Prime Minister was timely and serious," the Prime Minister said, expressing his pleasure at hearing that the number of provincial delegations visiting Hanoi to offer Tet greetings had decreased, estimated at 70%. The Prime Minister believes this figure reflects a significant shift in thinking regarding the implementation of the Party Central Committee's and the Prime Minister's policies.

Regarding existing issues, the Prime Minister expressed concern about the increasing number of traffic accidents, the persistent problem of drunk driving fights during Tet, and the continued occurrence of several major fires and explosions. The Prime Minister emphasized the need to learn from these experiences to ensure a warmer, safer Tet next year, better serving the people.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the spirit of entrepreneurship and the spirit of removing obstacles to production and business must be thoroughly understood, especially administrative procedure reform. Right at the beginning of the year, the 2017 socio-economic development plan must be implemented in the most proactive and timely manner to create clear changes in the first quarter.

In his directives and guidance, the Prime Minister emphasized two key issues: closely monitoring the global situation and climate change, in order to develop timely solutions and policy responses and prevent any unexpected events.

4. Awarding the National Journalism Prize on Party Building

Permanent Member of the Secretariat of the Central Committee Dinh The Huynh and Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan presented the first prize to the winning author.

On the evening of February 3rd, the first National Journalism Award on Party Building (Golden Hammer and Sickle Award) - 2016 was announced and presented in Hanoi. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended the event.

The National Press Award on Party Building, organized by the Central Organizing Committee, the Communist Magazine, and Vietnam Television, in coordination with the Central Propaganda Department, the Ministry of Information and Communications, and the Vietnam Journalists Association, was launched to commemorate the 126th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth.

The organizing committee received 1,173 entries, including 704 print articles, 108 online articles, 84 radio programs, 266 television programs, and 11 photojournalism entries.

The works reflected a comprehensive overview of Party building work across all regions and sectors. Many works highlighted exemplary individuals and good deeds, innovative and effective methods, suggesting new models or offering suggestions to supplement and amend outdated and ineffective regulations and models, helping relevant agencies to research and find solutions.

The judging panel awarded prizes to 47 outstanding works, including 3 A prizes, 7 B prizes, 12 C prizes, and 25 consolation prizes. In addition, 10 outstanding organizations were also selected for commendation.

5. Tens of thousands of people attended the opening ceremony of Huong Pagoda Festival 2017.

Dragon dances and musical performances entertain visitors before the festival officially opens.

From early morning, thousands of visitors from all over the country traveled upstream along the Yen Stream to reach the Huong Pagoda complex (My Duc, Hanoi) to attend the opening ceremony of the festival.

Huong Pagoda is a complex of temples, pagodas, and caves, with the main highlights being Thien Tru Pagoda, Huong Tich Cave, Son Thuy Huu Tinh Cave, Thanh Son Pagoda, Long Van Pagoda, Ngoc Long Cave, etc.

At exactly 9:00 AM, the opening ceremony officially began. As in previous years, the program unfolded quickly, lasting only half an hour, after which monks, Buddhist followers, and visitors offered incense inside the temple.

Immediately after the opening ceremony, the monk distributed blessings to the Buddhist followers and visitors present in the temple courtyard. Hoping to receive good fortune on the first day of the year, everyone raised their hands, holding out plates, bowls, hats, and caps to ask the monk for blessings.

A new feature of this year's Huong Pagoda festival is the absence of motorboats, in order to maintain a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. Furthermore, the festival management is paying close attention to waste disposal, with numerous trash cans placed along the pathways and garbage collectors working continuously. Even the Yen Stream is being cleaned up. As a result, visitors can enjoy the serene beauty of Huong Pagoda in a more tranquil setting.

Peace

(Synthetic)