Nation welcomes 2017 lunar New Year

As the Year of the Rooster has arrived, various activities are being held nationwide to welcome the new spring.

A performance during a New Year’s celebration in Mong Cai City, Quang Ninh Province on the lunar New Year’s Eve. (Credit: NDO)

On the morning of the first day of the lunar New Year, Lao Cai provincial customs and interdisciplinary forces made clearance procedures for the first shipment of the 2017 New Year at Kim Thanh Border Gate in Lao Cai.

The cargo belongs to Ha Thanh Company, which is based in Hanoi, including 4.8 tonnes of fresh lobster worth VND2.5 billion exported to China for New Year’s consumption.

According to Lao Cai Customs, in the first day of the new year, there have been four import-export declarations through Kim Thanh Border Gate.

In 2016, the Lao Cai border gate recorded imports and exports exceeding US$647 million in value, contributing VND745 billion to the State budget. In 2017, the unit will promote administrative reform and the implementation of e-customs declarations through a single door mechanism to better serve import-export activities.

Earlier on the lunar New Year’s Eve, thousands of locals in Lao Cai flocked to the main streets to enjoy art performances to welcome the new year. They gathered at the city’s central square to hear the provincial leaders’ New Year’s greetings.

They also offered incense to commemorate National Hero Hung Dao Dai Vuong Tran Quoc Tuan at the Thuong (Upper) Temple. Many young people participated in an exchange programme with border guards at border stations in Lao Cai.

* On New Year’s Eve, a special art programme was held at Lam Son Square in the central city of Thanh Hoa to welcome the Year of the Rooster.

At the event, Thanh Hoa’s provincial leaders highlighted local results achieved in 2016, while expressing wishes of good health and a happy new year to locals with the determination to win new victories in the year.

Various performances and cultural activities were also held across the province on the same day, attracting the participation of thousands of locals.

* In Quang Ninh Province, people flocked to spiritual relics like Long Tien Pagoda, Tran Quoc Nghien Temple and Bai Tho Mountain to offer incense and pray for a new year of peace and happiness.

Also on the last night of the old year, local leaders visited and conveyed new year’s greetings to relevant units on duty on the lunar New Year’s Eve.

* Thua Thien–Hue’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, in collaboration with Tu Van Pagoda, presented 30 gifts worth VND500,000 for youth workers collecting garbage at Kim Long Market and Le Quy Don Street in Hue on Friday evening.

They also offered 250 gifts worth VND500,000 each to child patients and those undergoing treatment at Hue Central Hospital who could not return home for the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

* The same day, art performances were also organised in many localities in the southernmost province of Ca Mau to welcome the new year.

In addition to tens of billions of VND from the State budget, the Ca Mau provincial government has mobilised relevant organisations, individuals and sponsors to present gifts to disadvantaged households to enjoy a warm Tet.

(Source: NDO)