Forced to be “cultured families” Starting from the idea of humanity, the movement called "All people unite to build cultural life in residential areas" has become formalistic.   The rusty "Determined to build cultured family" slogan boards in Vinh Long. In Tam Binh district of the southern province of Vinh Long, all houses - from big to small, from solidly built houses along main roads to the huts along canals, all are decorated with slogan "Determined to build cultured family". Many people said that local officials asked them to buy these slogan boards at the prices that double the market prices. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong - a resident of the village of Phu Tho, Tan Phu commune, Tam Binh district said that the slogan board in front of his house was offered for sale by village officials at the price of VND20,000 ($1). Phong is a building worker who earns VND100,000-VND150,000 per day to support his family. "VND20,000 could buy 2 kg of rice for 4 family members to eat in a day," he lamented. After a short time being hung up on the fence, the slogan boards of Phong’s house and his neighbors are deteriorating rapidly, but no one dare to remove them because the village officials have not asked them to purchase the new ones. Local households said that they had to buy these slogan boards to hang in front of their houses for fear of getting troubles from local authorities. Some households said they felt ashamed to hang these boards because their family members were alcohol addicts, thieves or fighting with others. The similar situation is noted in the districts of Tra On, Binh Minh and Vinh Long City of Vinh Long province. Local officials asked households to buy these slogan boards with prices ranging from VND20,000 to VND30,000. Meanwhile, a board maker in Binh Minh District said that such slogal boards are priced only about VND10,000. Some Vinh Long’s officials said that hanging such slogan boards is a policy of the province. Making and selling the slogan boards is implemented by ward and village authorities. According to Mr. Tran Tan Hien, Chief of the Office of Tam Binh District People's Committee, the district has over 30,000 households and all of them were encouraged to hang the slogan boards because it is "the province’s policy." Hien said most of the households in Tam Binh District have hanged that slogan board at their houses. He added that only the villages where village officials "drastically forced" people to buy the slogan boards, 100 % of households have these boards. In the central province of Phu Yen, the Steering Committee of the campaign "All people unite to build cultural life in residential areas” reported that the percentage of streets, residential groups, villages and families recognized as “cultured” increased highly in 2013. On Le Loi Street, Ward 3, Tuy Hoa City of Phu Yen province, rubbish was piled up on the corner of Nguyen Hue – Yersin. Passers-by had to hold their breath because of the stench. Kindergarten Hoang Yen (located opposite the landfill) was rarely open. In the afternoon, the landfill was expanded; waste covered almost all Yersin Road. Whenever a motorbike went through, flies flew out. Most of the houses on Yersin Street closed the door all day. The locals asked the local authorities to close this landfill but nothing changed. But this is a “cultured street.” Also in Ward 3 of Tuy Hoa City, rubbish was discharged in front of the board “Nguyen Cong Tru Cultured Street”. Ms. Pham Thi Thuy Vi – Chair of the Fatherland Front Committee and Head of the Steering Committee of the campaign "All people unite to build cultural life in residential areas" of Ward 3 said: “It is true that a street with such a landfill could not be recognized as cultured but this landfill has been formed a long time ago so it is difficult to close it. If the cultured street title is revoked, it is pity!" At the cultured village of Phu My, in Tam Dan commune, Phu Ninh district of Quang Nam province, when they were asked about the title of cultured family, most people showed no interest in it. They said that they did not care about this title because most families that do not have the third child or do not commit social evils are recognized as cultured families. NLD