The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism has recommended postponing or cancelling traditional festivals which are yet to start, and for those which already began, their scale, duration and activities should be reduced, in the face of the threat of coronavirus.

Thousands of participants at the Cuop Phet Festival, held in Phu Tho Province,
compete to catch the lucky ball. Illustration image (Photo: VNA)

The proposal was made in Dispatch 393/CD-BVHTTDL sent to Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities on the prevention of the spread of the new coronavirus (nCoV) which causes acute respiratory disease.  

The dispatch said in implementing the Prime Minister’s Directive 06/CT-TTg dated January 31 on intensifying preventive measures in the face of new complicated developments of the nCoV, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism asked Chairpersons of People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to instruct the suspension of upcoming festivals. Any exception should be submitted to the Prime Minister.  

In other news, the Vietnam Writers Association has decided to postpone the annual Poetry Day, which is normally held on the 15th day of the first lunar month, which falls on Saturday, February 8.

The organisers will announce the new date for the event when the nCoV threat subsides.

On his Facebook account, poet Tran Dang Khoa, deputy president of the association, said this is a necessary decision as the epidemic spreads more and more widely.

Khoa wrote that the organisers’ decision aims to ensure safety for international guests, locals and poetry fans all around the country.