President Võ Văn Thưởng presents scholarships to children who are in difficult circumstances and lost their parents due to COVID-19 in the provinces of Đồng Nai, BÌnh Dương and Tây Ninh, and HCM City. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Nearly six million children from 46 provinces and cities were presented gifts for the Mid-Autumn Festival which falls on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month every year.

According to the Children’s Department of the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the gifts include scholarships, cakes, candy, milk, books, clothes and bicycles worth VNĐ370 billion (US$15 million), of which the State budget paid over VNĐ10.5 billion ($430,000), and other private sectors contributed over VNĐ360 billion ($14.7 million).

The Việt Nam Children's Fund has mobilised a total amount of more than VNĐ20 billion ($820,474) for the festival and the new school year 2023-24, which is used to support 22,916 children.

President Võ Văn Thưởng also sent letters to children across the country.

He wrote: "Mid-Autumn Festival is also a festive of love and sharing, and an opportunity for adults to remind themselves to care more for children with love, responsibility and practical actions."

President Võ Văn Thưởng, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and leaders of the Party, State, party committees and, and people's committees of localities attended the Mid-Autumn Festival, sharing joy with children as well as visited and presented gifts to children in special circumstances and those being treated at the hospital.

Many agencies, units, organisations, donors and communities have joined hands to contribute and donate gifts to bring the festive spirit to all children, especially those in remote and border areas and islands.

Some localities organised a series of festivals and spaces to experience "Việt Nam Mid-Autumn Festival" for children and tourists with art programmes, folk games and traditional cuisine including calligraphy, making lanterns and moon cakes.

In order to have a safe Mid-Autumn Festival, the National Committee for Children and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs issued official dispatches guiding localities to ensure safety and prevent accidents.

The management of children's toys and food safety and hygiene were also strictly monitored by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Ministry of Health requested localities to carry out inspections and examinations of the production and trade of moon cakes, confectionery, beverages and traditional foods produced by small-scale establishments in craft villages.

In recent days, market management forces in localities have seized a large amount of smuggled moon cakes of unknown origins. — VNS