Hanoi authorities will spend VND195 billion dong ($$9.75 million) to buy gifts for 730,000 people on the occasion of the lunar New Year.

These are elderly people, retired people, poor people and those who served their nation well during the country’s wars.

Particularly, the women who are conferred “Heroic Mothers” (mothers of war martyrs), Heroes of the Armed Forces, war invalids and families of war martyrs will receive gifts worth VND500,000 ($25). Children of soldiers who were infected with toxic chemicals and representatives of families who worship martyrs will receive gifts worth VND300,000 ($15).

More than 1000 people of over 100 years old will also have gifts worth VND1 million ($50). Retired people will receive gifts worth VND200,000 ($10).

More than 148,000 poor households will have VND300,000 ($15) each.

The city authorities will also pay visits to and present gifts to 97 social patronage centers, enterprises of war invalids and 87 families of people who are dedicated to their country and the families of outstanding elderly people.

Nguyen The Hung, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said that the fund for lunar New Year gifts this year doubles that of 2010.

Hanoi Party Chief Pham Quang Nghi recently instructed state agencies to seriously implement the policy of not presenting gifts to officials and not allowing officials to take gifts this lunar New Year.

He also asked officials to take care of poor people, people who are dedicated to the country, the elderly so that everyone will have a good Tet.

The 8-day lunar New Year holiday will fall on February 3-10.

PV