A policeman directs traffic on a street in Hanoi as crowds flock to major streets to celebrate the U23 football team’s victory over Qatar on January 23. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc has asked ministries, agencies, localities and police forcesnationwide to take measures to ensure safety, security and order before, duringand after the final of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23Championship between Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
Vietnam will play Uzbekistan at 3pm (Vietnam time)today in Changzhou, China, after beating Qatar 4-3 in a penalty shootout on January 23.
The Ministries of Public Security, Transport andInformation and Communications and People’s Committees of localities wereinstructed to work with police forces, traffic inspectors and agencies toensure security, order and traffic safety and guide activities for people tosupport the team.
Security units were tasked with detecting,preventing and dealing with activities that could harm public security orthreaten traffic safety like illegal racing and violence.
The Ministry of Public Security has issued an urgentcircular, asking police forces nationwide to take measures to not let anyillegal racing happen, particularly in big cities and to be ready to deal withany circumstances.
Nearly 2,000 Hanoi police will be mobilised toensure traffic safety and order before, during and after the final match.
An official from the Hanoi Traffic Police Officesaid all local traffic police were asked to be ready on duty with 800 police onguard at more than 300 key areas before the final kicks off.
Mobile teams would also be set up to patrol toprevent any activities that threaten traffic safety, order and security, hesaid.
[Vietnam and Uzbekistan’s path to AFC U-23 final]
HCM City Police urged local police forces toincrease patrols around the city to ensure traffic safety and order.
The Vietnamese Consulate General in Shanghai hasasked the Organisation Board of the AFC Championship and relevant agencies ofChina to help Vietnamese fans buy tickets for the final and have measures toensure security for them.
The Consulate General instructed Vietnamese fansin China to strictly follow regulations of the country.
In case of emergency, they can contact thehotlines of the Consulate General at 86.21.68555698; 86.13262651727; and86.13636427223.
Hanoi and HCM City are planning to install LEDscreens in public venues to serve fans who want to watch the final between Vietnam and Uzbekistan.
The screens will be located at the walkingstreet area around Hoan Kiem Lake and at the August Revolution Square, My DinhStadium, Hang Day Stadium, Hoa Binh Park and Thong Nhat Park.
In HCM City, screens will be set up at NguyenHue pedestrian street area.
Many universities have also installed LEDscreens for students to watch the final.
Vietnamese people are using a wide range ofinnovative activities to encourage the U23 team.
Many cars in Hanoi are painted red or decoratedwith national flags and images of the team.
Workers at a construction site on Nguyen TraiStreet in Hanoi have attached national flags to the metal hoardings in supportof the U23 team. The 2.5m wide national flags are laid out to cover an area of500sq.m, grabbing the attention of many passers-by.
Many businesses have adjusted working hours toallow workers to watch the match.
Nguyen Quoc Thanh, from Hanoi’s Dong Da district, said he was so excited and still could not believe the U23 team wasin the final.
“Whether the U23 team win or not in the final,they are still brave warriors in the hearts of Vietnamese fans,” he said.
The Vietnam U23 team is scheduled to arrive homeon January 28. They will have a short parade on a bus from Noi Bai internationalairport.
A ceremony in their honour will be held at My DinhNational Stadium at 6pm the same day. The ceremony will last until midnight andentry will be free for fans.-VNA
