The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently issued Official Dispatch No. 365 asking localities hit by the latest COVID-19 outbreak to suspend all festivals to curb the spread of the pandemic.

The localities are also asked to stop karaoke service, dance clubs, crowded cultural events and large gatherings.

Based on the developments of the pandemic, the local governments will decide whether to delay or cancel sporting events.

Meanwhile, localities without new COVID-19 cases were asked to reduce the scale and length of festivals and cultural events. They must ensure that COVID-19 infection prevention and control measures are strictly complied with during the events.

The management boards of historical relics, landscapes, museums, libraries and cinemas must increase preventive measures and tighten control over visitors.

Since the new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases were reported on January 28, a number of festivals nationwide have been suspended.

Bac Giang Province has suspended cultural, sporting and entertaining activities at public places as well as religious events that gather more than 50 people.

The Vieng Market Festival in Nam Dinh Province has also been canceled. In Danang City, the Toom Sara Fest at Co Tu Toom Sara Village and two spring fairs have been called off.

Hoi An City in Quang Nam Province has canceled some festivals and cultural events, including the Hoi An Show, which was initially scheduled to take place on January 30.

“The cancellation of festivals has affected the revenues of businesses and tourist attractions. However, localities need to strictly implement preventive measures in the fields of culture, sports and tourism according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism,” said Ninh Thi Thu Huong, director of the Department of Grassroots Culture at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.