The above direction is clearly stated when thoroughly grasping the implementation of Directive 55-CT/TW of the Secretariat on organizing the 2026 Binh Ngo Tet.
Vietnamese people have a very beautiful tradition, which is to visit, express gratitude, and share feelings during the traditional Tet holiday. But that tradition is only truly valuable when it comes from pure, voluntary personal relationships, not dominated by interests, power or selfish calculations.
Between friends, relatives, teachers and students, Tet gifts have spiritual meaning, showing respect, not measured by money. In official relations, especially between subordinates and superiors, Tet gifts easily slip into other purposes.
Reality for a long time shows that many places consider giving Tet gifts to leaders as a taboo, even becoming pressure on subordinates. Heads of units take the name of the collective, deduct budget, mobilize officials and businesses to "contribute" to buy gifts, and organize delegations to visit and wish Tet.
The consequence is both wasting public money and distorting administrative relations, turning subordinates' work of doing their duties well and complying with the law into personal "pleasure" to superiors.
More dangerously, from formal Tet gifts, many places have distorted them into envelopes and valuable assets.
Many corruption cases brought to trial show that the act of receiving bribes often originates from "Tet gifts of gratitude", gradually becoming the buying and selling of positions and benefits.
Therefore, the ban on giving gifts and not organizing Tet visits to leaders does not lose cultural beauty, but on the contrary, helps return Tet to its original meaning, saving, healthy, and humane.
More importantly, it contributes to cutting off an undercurrent of negativity, building a clean working environment where competence, responsibility and work efficiency are the only measure.
Not giving Tet gifts to save the budget is only a part.
The greater value is that, eliminating the mentality of "receiving gifts is normal", cadres and civil servants no longer think that gifts can replace responsibility and work results.
When there are no more Tet gifts, no more buses going to congratulate superiors, officials and civil servants will have more time and resources to care for people, for vulnerable groups, for more substantive tasks.
Tet gifts for leaders are not in gift baskets or envelopes, but in the figures disbursed on schedule, projects completed on schedule, and people's grievances resolved satisfactorily.
When each official fulfills their duty, that is the most valuable and sustainable Tet gift for superiors and society.
It's a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit of a bit.
