Deputy Minister Huynh Vinh Ai: 'I take responsibility before the Deputy Prime Minister'

Taking responsibility for misunderstanding Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam's instructions, the Deputy Minister of Culture also apologized to Mr. Huynh Tan Vinh.

On the afternoon of June 5, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Huynh Vinh Ai spoke to the press about the issuance of a document requesting disciplinary action against Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association Huynh Tan Vinh for his "inaccurate" statements about the planning of the Son Tra peninsula.

- On June 2, the Ministry of Culture issued a document requesting disciplinary action against Mr. Huynh Tan Vinh, Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, for his statements at a conference. What is the reason for issuing this document, Deputy Minister?

- On May 30, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a seminar on "Sustainable tourism development at Son Tra National Tourist Area" in Hanoi with the aim of exchanging and listening to opinions from organizations, experts and scientists on the issue of the Master Plan for the development of Son Tra National Tourist Area.

At the seminar, there were many opinions exchanged on the professional content of the Planning in a responsible and frank manner with the common view of ensuring sustainable development of Son Tra National Tourist Area. In addition, at the seminar, there were also opinions suggesting that the competent authorities should review the legality of the Planning.

Following the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam on continuing to listen to and absorb professional opinions related to the sustainable development of Son Tra National Tourist Area; at the same time requesting the Ministry to send documents to agencies and organizations to continue discussing and clarifying the content of the legality of the Plan, the Ministry issued a document on June 2.

Deputy Minister Huynh Vinh Ai.

- Just 2 days later, why did you withdraw the document you signed yourself?

- On the evening of June 2, I was assigned by the Ministry to give a speech celebrating the 71st anniversary of Italy's National Day at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology. At around 6 o'clock, I received a phone call from the Director General of Tourism, saying that there was a document for me to sign urgently. I asked and was told that it was about Son Tra Peninsula. Then the General Department of Tourism sent people to show me the document. When I saw it, I did not agree because there were some complicated contents and I did not understand the purpose of the document, why it had to be signed and issued.

I asked the General Department of Tourism to redo it to make it clearer. The General Department of Tourism said that this was the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, so they edited it for me to sign. I said that if the Deputy Prime Minister had given his opinion, I would consider signing it, but I asked for it to be edited to be softer. Then I signed the document. But the next day, I felt uneasy.

On the morning of June 4, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam called and texted me with the following content: “The document issued by the Ministry is very inaccurate in that it requires Mr. Vinh to explain. The staff members are used to the administrative style and think like their own officials. That document should be withdrawn immediately.”

I asked for the Minister's opinion, discussed with the Director General of Tourism, and said it must be revoked. The Minister agreed to revoke. The Director General of Tourism also agreed to revoke.

- What is the responsibility of the General Department of Tourism in advising you to sign the above document?

- The General Department of Tourism has misunderstood the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. The Deputy Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to exchange documents with the Da Nang Tourism Association and relevant organizations to clarify the petitions related to the legality of the Son Tra Planning. However, the General Department of Tourism has misunderstood that direction.

The Deputy Prime Minister's direction was correct, but the General Department of Tourism did not receive it correctly. As for me, I only heard it indirectly through the General Department of Tourism, so I also misunderstood that opinion.

The Ministry will direct the General Department of Tourism to review individuals involved in advising on the signing of the document on June 2.

- How responsible are you personally for the recent incident?

- I take responsibility for the mistakes in the dispatch sent to the Da Nang Tourism Association. I take responsibility before Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam. I have also apologized to the Da Nang Tourism Association and Mr. Huynh Tan Vinh personally. I hope to receive the people's sympathy and understanding for this unfortunate incident.

- What will the Ministry of Culture do with Son Tra planning in the coming time?

- In the coming time, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will coordinate with the People's Committee of Da Nang City and related units to organize a seminar in Da Nang City on sustainable development at Son Tra National Tourist Area to continue to exchange and listen to opinions of experts, scientists and organizations with the highest spirit of learning, hoping to continue to receive sharing and contributions from experts, scientists and people.

Currently, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has assigned relevant ministries and branches to continue reviewing and reporting on the legal basis and data on the Master Plan for the development of Son Tra National Tourist Area.

According to VNE