Expect no pyrotechnic shows in Vietnam in the upcoming Lunar New Year because the Party has banned all localities from organizing such shows. The Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam has released a directive that requires all provinces and cities not to hold fireworks displays to celebrate Tet, or the Lunar New Year. Tet falls on January 28 but celebrations often start one week before that and linger for another week after the date. Provinces and cities in Vietnam normally organize 15-to-30-minute pyrotechnic shows on Lunar New Year’s Eve, using funds from either the state budget or the private sector. The Secretariat is the highest implementation body of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The directive also requests that the funds earmarked for fireworks shows be used to support the poor during Tet. It requires that government agencies and officials be thrifty and not waste public funds during the Tet festivities. Subordinates are completely prohibited from giving gifts in any form to their superiors during Tet, the Secretariat underlined in the fiat. Those using state budgets, vehicles, and assets against the law during Tet will be harshly punished, the directive says. This fiat follows an announcement earlier this month by Ho Chi Minh City authorities that fireworks displays would be organized to celebrate New Year and Tet. According to their plan, a high-range pyrotechnic would be held in the area of the Thu Thiem Tunnel in District 2 and a low-range one would be staged at Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11 in celebration of New Year. Fireworks would blast at seven locations in the city to celebrate the Lunar New Year, including one high-range performance like that of New Year, and six low-range displays at National Cultural and Historical Park in District 9, Dam Sen Cultural Park, Cu Chi Tunnels in Cu Chi District, Lang Le-Bau Co Historical Relic Site in Binh Chanh District, Rung Sac Square in Can Gio District, and Nga Ba Giong Memorial to Heroic Martyrs in Hoc Mon District. All the fireworks shows for Tet will thus be canceled in accordance with the Secretariat’s directive. But it is not clear if the fiat applies to the pyrotechnic displays to celebrate New Year (January 1).