JavaScript is off. Please enable to view full site.

Vietnamese province to cancel lavish leather bags order over public outcry

Vietnamese province to cancel lavish leather bags order over public outcry

Saturday, August 29, 2020, 11:02 GMT+7

The north-central Vietnamese province of Quang Binh will cancel an order for VND2.2 billion (US$95,000) worth of leather bags as gifts for participants in an upcoming provincial Party congress following public outcry.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reported on Thursday that the Office of Quang Binh Province Party Committee had appointed a contractor for their bidding package of leather document bags, intended to be gifts for 400 representatives and 200 guests attending the province’s upcoming 17th Party Congress.

As quoted by the expenditure approval, each attendee of the Congress would be entitled to a leather bag, worth approximately around VND3.5-3.7 million (US$152-161), which brings the total cost to VND2.2 billion just for the gifts alone.

The lavish spending was met with public outcry following media reports.

The provincial Party chief Vu Dai Thang told Tuoi Tre newspaper on Thursday afternoon he has directed relevant agencies to cancel the order for the leather bags.

According to Thang, he has only assumed the position as secretary of the provincial Party Committee for three weeks and did not have any oversight over this spending decision when it was made.

After acknowledging public feedback and reviewing the details of the order, Thang concluded that the VND2.2 billion expenditure is “unjustified.”

“As our economy is grappling during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, such large spending for document bags is unjustifiable and needs to be corrected immediately,” said Thang.

According to Thang, the aim of his province at the moment is to be provident to the best of their ability, which means spendings will be streamlined across the board.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

Xuan Tung - Quoc Nam / Tuoi Tre News

More

Read more

;

Photos

VIDEOS

‘Taste of Australia’ gala dinner held in Ho Chi Minh City after 2-year hiatus

Taste of Australia Gala Reception has returned to the Park Hyatt Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City's District 1 after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic

Vietnamese woman gives unconditional love to hundreds of adopted children

Despite her own immense hardship, she has taken in and cared for hundreds of orphans over the past three decades.

Vietnam’s Mekong Delta celebrates spring with ‘hat boi’ performances

The art form is so popular that it attracts people from all ages in the Mekong Delta

Latest news