Vietnam cracks down on plastic pollution

Movement to reduce plastic waste

In response to the anti-plastic waste movement launched in June 2019 by then-Prime Minister and current President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Vietnamese government and related parties have implemented a number of projects. As a pioneer in Vietnam’s central region, the city of Da Nang implemented the “Ocean without plastic” project. The practices that yielded positive project results have suggested more solutions and ways for the central coastal provinces and cities to mobilize human resources and classify and manage waste, contributing to environmental protection.

Cleaning up the beach

In Quang Ninh Province, a zero-plastic-waste program for Ha Long Bay has attracted wide individual and organizational participation. Starting in September 2022, the Co To Island District officially banned tourists from bringing plastic bottles and bags to the island in order to promote sustainable tourism.

Many other provinces and cities across the country have also issued plastic free action plans to raise people’s awareness. About 70 projects and programs have been implemented in 19 out of 28 coastal provinces, cities and island districts. In addition, the International Conference on Sustainable Ocean Economy and Climate Change Adaptation, held in May 2022, reaffirmed Vietnam’s efforts to fulfill the global agreement on tackling ocean plastic waste pollution.

Green consumption habits

To address the challenges of environmental and ocean pollution caused by excessive use of disposable plastic products in keeping with official policies and the call made by the state president, many specific actions and programs have been adopted and deployed. Distribution and retail businesses have joined hands to gradually eliminate disposable plastic products from their distribution and trade systems.

Deputy Director of the Domestic Markets Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade) Le Viet Nga said green consumption is an important part of Vietnam’s national strategy on green growth in the 2021-2030 period.

Large supermarkets have taken specific actions to reduce plastic bags as well as encourage the use of reusable bags. Accordingly, businesses such as Co.op Mart Vietnam, Saigon Co.op, Big C Da Nang and Big C Hanoi have used banana leaves to wrap food in an effort to gradually replace plastic bags.

Nguyen Duc Tien, Chair of the Hanoi City Youth Federation said the City Youth Union has developed a plan to reduce plastic waste in traditional markets across the city, initially piloting it at Van La market (Ha Dong District) and Phu Gia market (Tay Ho District).