Government orders ministries to ensure stable supplies and prices ahead of Tet
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered ministries and local authorities to stabilize markets, secure essential goods and strengthen social welfare to ensure a smooth Lunar New Year holiday.
THE HANOI TIMES — The Ministry of Industry and Trade must closely track market developments and ensure adequate supplies of essential goods ahead of 2026 Tet (Lunar New Year), according to a directive issued by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 1.
A staff of the Hanoi Market Surveillance Department checks goods at Co.op Mart supermarket. Photo: Le Nam/The Hanoi Times
Official Dispatch No. 07 on Lunar New Year preparations stresses the need to prevent shortages, market disruptions and unreasonable price increases.
Local authorities and relevant agencies must proactively prepare goods and roll out market stabilization programs. These include supply-demand linkages and initiatives to bring Vietnamese products to rural areas, industrial zones and remote or disadvantaged regions.
Market surveillance forces will step up inspections of product origin, quality and regulatory compliance, particularly during the peak shopping period before Tet.
Ensuring uninterrupted supplies of gasoline, oil and electricity remains a key priority. Authorities must guarantee stable energy supplies for production and daily life, with no shortages permitted.
The Ministry of Finance will coordinate with relevant agencies to oversee Vietnam Social Security and ensure timely and adequate payment of social insurance, unemployment insurance and health insurance benefits.
To support beneficiaries during the holiday period, pensions and social insurance allowances for February and March 2026 will be paid in advance, together in February, allowing recipients to better prepare for Tet.
The Government also ordered the timely release of national reserve goods to eligible beneficiaries as part of broader social welfare efforts.
Special attention will focus on areas affected by natural disasters, storms and floods, ensuring no household faces food shortages during the Lunar New Year and the pre-harvest period.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment must balance supply and demand for food and agricultural products, with priority given to essential items.
The ministry must also ensure food safety, environmental hygiene, air quality and clean water supplies, while facilitating smooth customs clearance at border gates to avoid congestion.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will organize culturally appropriate art and entertainment programs during Tet and strengthen oversight of festivals and tourism activities.
Tourism businesses must publicly display prices and are strictly barred from price gouging or exploiting visitors.
Provincial and municipal authorities must ensure sufficient transport capacity to meet rising travel demand as people return home for Tet.
Based on local conditions, localities may decide on fireworks displays. Authorities must also implement social welfare policies and monitor enterprises to ensure workers receive full and timely salaries and Tet bonuses.
Local governments must maintain environmental sanitation and urban order, keeping public spaces and tourist sites clean and well managed throughout the holiday.
The directive also reiterates strict public-sector discipline. Officials and civil servants may not organize Tet visits to superiors, use public funds or assets for gift-giving, or misuse state budgets and facilities for festive or recreational purposes.
