A closed cinema in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính asks authorities to consider the reopening of cinemas across the country.

According to the dispatch released from the Government Office, a number of cinema businesses in Hà Nội has sent a request to the Prime Minister dated January 1, 2022, asking for permission to resume operations ahead of the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday when people have high demands for entertainment and cultural activities – especially when many Vietnamese Tết films are slated to debut on this occasion after nearly two years of delays.

Hà Nội’s market is one of the most important that contributes a lion’s share of revenues to the film industry in Việt Nam, they noted.

To both carry out the dual goals of pandemic control and socio-economic development, the business representatives asked for a pilot reopening of cinemas, with disease prevention measures stringently in place. They also hope this will enable Vietnamese films to reach a wide audience during the upcoming holiday and to bring a chance for filmmakers and businesses in the industry to recover financially to continue to survive and grow.

In reply, PM Chính tasks the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism to coordinate with the Ministry of Health and concerned agencies to direct the reviews of conditions for reopening of cinemas in Việt Nam in a uniformed manner but still in line with the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Cinemas in Hà Nội have been closed since May last year, when the fourth wave infections started to get complicated.

Cinemas have been allowed to reopen in HCM City, the former epicentre of this wave, since late November when the outbreak subsided.

At the moment Hà Nội is leading the country in terms of new daily COVID-19 infections, however,  with high vaccination rates, hospitalisations and deaths are still under control. — VNS