Springtime of shifts that run through New Year's Eve.

On the night of the 29th of Tet, while many families were gathered around the New Year's Eve dinner table and the streets were brightly lit, at the city's "hotspots," the pace of work remained steady and urgent.

A family brings their young children to play in the Ho Guom pedestrian area during the New Year's celebrations. Photo: Hoang Hieu/TTXVN.

No fireworks, no celebratory greetings, just the steady glow of screens, the ringing of emergency hotlines, and the sound of brooms sweeping through the crowds heading to the city center. Hanoi welcomed the Lunar New Year peacefully, not only thanks to the festive colors, but also to the silent, tireless shifts of those on duty throughout the night.

On duty 24/7 to maintain an uninterrupted flow of energy.

At the power dispatching station No. 274 on Ton Duc Thang Street, the load monitoring screens remained lit throughout the night. Engineers took turns on duty 24/7, continuously updating parameters and monitoring the operation of the power grid system throughout the area.

During the Lunar New Year holiday, electricity consumption increases significantly due to household activities, decorative lighting, event organization, and fireworks displays. Therefore, contingency plans are meticulously prepared weeks in advance: reviewing all substations, inspecting power lines, and deploying personnel, equipment, and backup supplies in key areas.

Even the smallest incident reports are received and processed immediately, often during the night. There is no room for delay. Maintaining a stable power supply means maintaining the rhythm of life and the warm atmosphere of togetherness for millions of families.

According to Nguyen Danh Duyen, Chairman of the Board of Members of Hanoi Electricity Corporation, the unit has developed a 24/7 on-call plan, with 1,000 out of 7,400 employees on duty during Tet (Lunar New Year) across the city, especially at fireworks display locations; organized inspections and reviews of the entire power grid and substations; and arranged personnel, equipment, and backup materials ready to handle any incidents. Detailed scenarios for responding to unusual situations regarding load, weather, and technical failures have been prepared.

The 115 emergency hotline never stops working because every minute and second can be a matter of life and death.

At the 115 Emergency Center in Hanoi on Phan Chu Trinh Street, the hotline was constantly ringing. Each call indicated an emergency: traffic accidents, strokes, food poisoning, acute illnesses, etc. This specialized medical unit plays a core role in pre-hospital emergency care, promptly receiving, transporting, and treating emergency cases throughout the city, especially in emergency situations, accidents, and disasters.

The on-call teams are fully staffed, and ambulances are always ready to depart. Coordinators calculate the shortest route and the quickest connection to the receiving medical facility.

On the night of the 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year), there is no such thing as "rest." For the pre-hospital emergency medical services, every minute is a matter of life and death. As fireworks light up the sky, somewhere, the green lights of ambulances still flash through the streets, carrying hope for a family awaiting news.

Dr. Nguyen Thanh, Director of the Hanoi 115 Emergency Center, said that the unit had issued a plan for serving the Lunar New Year holiday early on, given that this year's holiday lasts 9 days. Accordingly, the Center focused on comprehensively reviewing the conditions for ensuring emergency services, especially ambulance vehicles, logistics, fuel, medicines, and medical supplies, to ensure smooth emergency operations without interruption or errors in any situation.

Over the past three days, the Hanoi 115 Emergency Center has maintained 15 continuous on-call teams and has carried out 140 outpatient emergency trips, saving many patients in critical condition.

Bach Mai Hospital has deployed personnel in multiple layers, including on-call, on-call, and pre-hospital emergency teams. Specialties are always ready for multidisciplinary consultations. Photo: Minh Quyet/TTXVN

Silent footsteps by Ho Guom Lake

In the area around Hoan Kiem Lake – the heart of the capital – the crowds are growing larger every moment. At the same time, teams of workers from the Hanoi Urban Environment One-Member Limited Liability Company are diligently collecting garbage and cleaning every street.

Waste accumulates rapidly during peak hours. Specialized vehicles continuously transport it to collection points. Silent footsteps in the cold night ensure that on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, residents and tourists will see a bright, green, and clean Ho Guom Lake. Mr. Nguyen Huu Tien, Chairman of the Board of Members of Hanoi Urban Environment One-Member Limited Liability Company, said that they have developed a plan to increase manpower and vehicles for waste collection and transportation; and organized overnight shifts to ensure environmental hygiene before, during, and after New Year's Eve. Work teams are assigned to specific areas to ensure timely collection and prevent waste accumulation that would detract from the urban landscape.

Maintaining urban cleanliness on New Year's Eve is not only a technical task, but also about preserving the image and appearance of the capital city during the transition to the new year.

Maintaining a peaceful rhythm through quiet shifts.

On the night of the 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year), Hanoi continues to function like a living organism with its vital "pulses" that must not stop: electricity, healthcare, and the environment. They are not noisy, nor do they appear on the festive stage, but it is they who keep the city lit, provide timely emergency care, and maintain clean and beautiful streets.

Also on the night of the 29th of Tet (Lunar New Year's Eve), the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, Vu Dai Thang, along with a delegation, visited, extended New Year greetings, and inspected the readiness of several units on duty throughout Tet in Hanoi. The Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee acknowledged and praised the sense of responsibility of the forces on duty throughout Tet, while emphasizing the need to ensure absolute safety of the electrical system, maintain the highest level of readiness for the 115 emergency service, and increase garbage collection at crowded areas. He also affirmed that the city will continue to pay attention to the working conditions and benefits for workers on duty during Tet.

The New Year's Eve visit and greetings from the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee, Vu Dai Thang, was not only a timely encouragement for the forces on duty throughout the Tet holiday but also demonstrated the close attention and guidance of the city's leaders in ensuring the best conditions for the people of Hanoi to celebrate the New Year safely, peacefully, and completely.

Amidst the dazzling fireworks and New Year's greetings, there are shifts on duty through midnight. And it is these people who are quietly keeping the capital city's rhythm going as it enters the new year in peace.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/xa-hoi/xuan-cua-nhung-ca-truc-xuyen-giao-thua-20260216235436325.htm