People should not burn votive paper indiscriminately during the spring festival.

Regarding the organization of spring festivals, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recommends that localities strengthen propaganda and mobilize people not to burn votive paper and gold indiscriminately, causing waste and expense, and to ensure safety, thrift and environmental protection.

Specifically, Ms. Ninh Thi Thu Huong, Director of the Department of Grassroots Culture, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just signed and issued Official Dispatch No. 95/VHCS-NSVH to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Department of Culture and Sports of provinces and centrally-run cities on ensuring a civilized, safe and economical lifestyle in the 2024 spring festival activities and the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin.

Accordingly, the Department of Grassroots Culture requested departments to advise local authorities; raise awareness and responsibility of all levels, sectors, people and tourists in strictly implementing the contents of Official Dispatch No. 11/CD-TTg dated January 30, 2024 of the Prime Minister; regulations of Decree No. 110/2018/ND-CP dated August 29, 2018 of the Government and directive documents of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on festival management and organization.

The document clearly states: “The festival organizing committee is requested to strictly implement the provisions of the law in order to organize the festival to ensure security, order, safety, economy, in accordance with the civilized lifestyle, cultural traditions of the nation and good customs and practices of each locality; not to organize festivals indiscriminately, causing waste of time and money of the people, society and the State.”

The Department of Grassroots Culture recommends that localities increase the organization of propaganda activities about the origin of the festival, relics and characters worshiped and honored; about the values ​​and true meanings of traditional rituals in festival activities.

The document emphasizes the need to strengthen propaganda and mobilize people not to burn votive offerings and votive paper indiscriminately.

In addition, localities need to organize inspections, checks, and supervision before, during, and after the festival; promptly prevent and strictly handle violations in festival activities, especially acts of taking advantage of relics, festivals, and beliefs for personal gain, superstitious activities, and gambling.