1.
CU VIETNAMESE CALENDAR SHOWS YEAR OF THE HORSE
0.04

2.
LS OPEN-AIR MARKET SCENE
0.09

3.
CU WOMEN BUYING FLOWERS FOR HOME (TWO SHOTS)
0.21

4.
CU MINIATURE CACTUS PLANTS IN POTS
0.24

5.
LS GOOD-LUCK CHARACTERS WRITTEN ON RED PAPER ON SALE
0.26

6.
CU AGED MAN WRITING GOOD-LUCK CHARACTERS ON PAPER (FOUR SHOTS)
0.36

7.
CU GOOD-LUCK CHARACTERS FOR SALE
0.39

8.
MS GREETING CARDS
0.41

9.
MLS LANTERNS
0.44

10.
CU SHOPPERS BUYING SWEETS
0.46

11.
MS BUYING FRUITS
0.48

12.
CU MORE SHOPPING
0.51

13.
MS MARKET SCENE (TWO SHOTS)
1.00



Initials CAR/VS/MK/YA/RBI



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THE CHINESE CELEBRATE THE LUNAR NEW YEAR TOMORROW (FRIDAY). IT IS THE YEAR OF THE HORSE. SO LAST MINUTE SHOPPING IN SAIGON, THE CAPITAL OF WAR-TORN VIETNAM, IS NOT A COMMON SIGHT ..... IT IS THE SAME AS IN MOST ASIAN COUNTRIES.

DOZENS OF OPEN-AIR MARKETS HAVE MUSHROOMED IN SAIGON TO CATER FOR THE LAST MINUTE SHOPPERS. THE ESSENTIAL ITEMS ON SALE WERE FLOWERS, MINIATURE CACTUS PLANTS, GOOD-LUCK CHARACTERS WRITTEN ON LONG STRIPS OF RED PAPER WITH GOLD INK, LANTERNS, GREETING CARDS AND SWEETS.

MEANWHILE, THE UNITED STATES AND OTHER ALLIED FORCES HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO OBSERVE AN 84-HOUR CEASEFIRE AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. THE CEASEFIRE DECISION WAS TAKEN IN KEEPING WITH THE IMPORTANCE AND TRADITION OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS.

THE 3 1/2-DAY HALT OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS DURING THE CELEBRATIONS FOLLOWED A VIETCONG ANNOUNCEMENT OF A SIMILAR CEASEFIRE, TO LAST 18 HOURS LONGER THAN THAT PROCLAIMED BY THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT. THE ALLIED FORCES HAVE BEEN ORDERED NOT TO FIRE AT OR ON THE ENEMY EXCEPT IN SELF DEFENCE.