Environmental cleanup campaigns in Vietnam

Environmental cleanup and waste management campaigns were launched across Vietnam in September 2026.

World Cleanup Day mobilized over 10,000 volunteers across more than 20 provinces and cities to address plastic waste and single-use products. In Hanoi, a specific event involving 550 volunteers resulted in the collection of 1.7 tons of waste, with an emphasis on waste sorting and behavioral changes to reduce plastic use.

Concurrently, the Clean Up the World Campaign was launched in Hanoi under the theme “From clean plates to clean cities.” This initiative focuses on food and organic waste, which Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Trong Yen noted accounts for approximately 50% to 70% of Vietnam’s total solid domestic waste. The campaign promotes community-led programs, such as a “21-day sorting” initiative, to encourage waste reduction at the source and support circular resource models.

By late September, youth organizations expanded these efforts through the “Green Sunday” and “Make the World Cleaner” campaigns. In Ho Chi Minh City, over 400 volunteers collaborated with the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and the Environmental Protection Department to clean the Nha Nuoi canal, aiming to improve water flow and mitigate flooding risks. In Hanoi, youth unions across 126 communes and wards conducted simultaneous cleaning activities to eliminate pollution hotspots and improve landscapes. These programs also included the distribution of eco-friendly bags and trash bins to residents and market management to promote sustainable living habits.