Hanoi tightens monitoring over officials' luxury weddings

Dozens of state officials in Hanoi have been punished for organising extravagant wedding parties.
In 2012, the government issued Directive 11 ordering state officials to set a good example by not holding luxury weddings. The weddings must not have more than 300 guests or be held at five-star hotels or resorts.
At a review meeting, the city party committee concluded that most officials had followed the regulations in the past five years. Many people have criticised officials for luxury weddings, questioning them how that they were able to hold such wedding with meagre wages. It is also said that many officials may use the weddings for personal benefits.
Directive 11 also banned officials from attending weddings during work hours or using state vehicles.
The city party committee praised Dong Anh District for setting up a regulation that if an official invited more guests than allowed, most of his co-workers will not attend. However, there are still many officials ignored the rule.
An official in Thanh Tri District was reprimanded for inviting too many guests. He claimed that there are too many relatives to cut down the tables. Ha Dong authorities also punished 20 officials. Last year, the chairman of Vat Lai Commune, Ba Vi District, was reprimanded for holding his child’s wedding during work hours.
Ngo Van Nam from the Department of Culture and Sports said officials should not hold extravagant weddings while there are still many people in difficulties. “The more modern society becomes, the less complicated practices should be,” he said.
He went on to say that the officials are putting others in a difficult situation if they invite all 2,000 co-workers at their departments and even in other departments to the weddings. According to Nam, most officials will not be able to afford luxury weddings anyway.
“If there is any luxury weddings the media and even co-workers will file a report,” he said.
Hanoi People’s Committee continued to ask the authorities at all levels to follow the directive and submit reports every six months.
By Quang Phong (Dtinews)