NAM ĐỊNH — Trial cameras will be installed during the Trần Temple festival this year to track violations, said Phạm Thi Oanh, deputy chairwoman of People’s Committee of Nam Định City.

The cameras will help identify service fee hike and violations, such as people throwing small banknotes to palanquins that distribute symbolic royal seals.

The organising committee of the festival will step up supervision on parking fee and xe ôm (motorbike taxi) price and will work with bank inspectors to identify and fine those who stalk visitors for small banknote exchange.

Oanh said an inter-sector inspection team led by the head of the market surveillance team at the local Department of Industry and Trade will supervise the monitoring.

The organising committee has prepared for the seal distribution ceremony to meet visitors’ demand.

After the ceremony, offerings on altars will be cleaned up to avoid fighting over the offerings.

Distributing symbolic royal seals is an indispensable part of the Trần Temple festival. The seals, distributed among locals and tourists, are considered lucky cards for the new year.

The festival will kick off on the 11th day of the first month of the lunar calendar (February 26) and will conclude on the 16th day (March 3). The royal seals will be distributed from 5am on the 15th day of the first lunar month (March 2).

The Trần Temple Festival in Nam Định was recognised as national intangible heritage in 2014. Visitors attend the water procession and fish worshipping ceremonies at Trần Temple Complex in Lộc Vượng Ward, Nam Định City in the northern province of Nam Định to honour the ancestors of the Trần dynasty (1226-1400), who earned their living from fishing. — VNS