While the whole country is entering into the festive mood for the Tet holiday, its biggest in the year, many poor households in Ho Chi Minh City are already enjoying particular happiness with Tet gifts sent by local authorities.

This year, more gifts have been given earlier to a broader range of beneficiaries, in order to inspire some local cheer as the New Year dawns. Many of the most disadvantaged have even been presented well-built houses to live in.

Vo Thanh My, Chairman Fatherland Front of An Phu commune, Cu Chi district said the house means a lot to the needy households in remote areas like An Phu commune as it will make them feel more stable in life, thus working better.

A beneficiary, Trinh Ngoc Quy, An Phu commune, Cu Chi district expressed his happiness to now have a well-constructed house as his old and dilapidated shelter could barely cover his family from wind and rain.

To Chu Thi Hong To, who has to raise three children in Can Thanh town, Can Gio district, the house is like a dream come true, thanks to the helping hand of the local social organisations and union.

Many other households in Thạnh An Island district now have new houses to shelter them from storms and winds, giving them a warmer Tet holiday.

Houses worth nearly 1 billion VND have been presented to 27 poor households in the city, while gift packages have also been given to 1000 needy families.

Besides giving Tet gifts and houses, Ho Chi Minh City authorities and social organisations have provided free bus tickets and 24,000 gift packages to the workers during the holidays.-VNA