NDO/VNA - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has asked local departments under its wings to advise cities and provinces nationwide to cancel festivals and fireworks displays celebrating Tet, Vietnam’s traditional New Year which will come by the end of this month, as concerns rise over COVID-19 spike.

The cities and provinces need to strengthen COVID-19 preventive measures that allow people to safely enjoy the upcoming nine-day holiday, it said in an official dispatch, given that Tet will be celebrated in the “new normal”.

The ministry has also urged units to further raise public awareness of COVID-19 rules, warn them not to lower guard against the virus but provide people with sufficient information on the COVID-19 development.

It is needed to step up checks and supervision of cultural, sports and tourism activities and festivals before, during and after Tet, depending on the COVID-19 situation in each locality.