The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in coordination with photographer Nguyen Viet Hung, or Lekima Hung, organised a photo exhibition on plastic waste in Hanoi on June 4.
One of the photos displayed at the exhibition (Source: thethaovanhoa.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in coordinationwith photographer Nguyen Viet Hung, or Lekima Hung, organised a photoexhibition on plastic waste in Hanoi on June 4.
Themed“Save our seas,” the five-day exhibition, the first of its kind in Vietnam, aimsto respond to World Environment Day (June 5) and World Oceans Day (June 8).
Addressingthe opening ceremony, Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Country Director in Vietnam, calledfor practical activities to create a greener and cleaner Vietnam.
LekimaHung expressed his hope for higher public awareness of plastic waste and thatmanagement agencies will issues policies to fight plastic waste.
Ondisplay are more than 100 photos elected from over 3,000 works taken along morethan 3,000 km of coastline in 28 cities and provinces, and more than 100estuaries.
Vietnam is one of Asia’s five worst polluters ofocean plastic waste, according to international organisations. With 13 milliontonnes of waste released to the ocean every year, the country ranks17th in the world for ocean plastic waste pollution.
Although there are no official statistics on theamount and varieties of plastic in the Vietnamese sea and islands, plasticwaste is easy to see in Vietnamese waters, with the country’s 112 estuaries themain gateways of plastic to the ocean.
Numbers from Vietnam’s Association of Plasticillustrate the scale of the problem. In 1990, each Vietnamese consumed 3.8kg ofplastic per year, but 25 years later, the figure hit 41kg.
As many as 1,000 plastic bags are used eachminute but only 27 percent of them are treated and recycled.
The Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment estimated that about 80 tonnes of plastic waste and bags are thrownaway every day in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City combined.-VNA
French non-governmental organisation GRET Vietnam and partners held an international seminar in Hanoi on May 15 to discuss solid waste management in suburban, small and medium-sized urban areas in Southeast Asia, within the framework of a project on waste management in rural areas.
A seminar was held by the Vietnam Institute of Seas and Islands under the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands (VASI) on May 24 to share experience in managing and proposing contents for the national action plan on ocean plastic waste management to 2030.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
The figures were highlighted in a Pre-Feasibility Study on a DRS tailored for single-use beverage packaging in Vietnam, conducted by Eunomia Research & Consulting.
Young people should not view AI as salvation but rather as a tool under human control. Young creators should focus on learning and accumulating practical knowledge, using AI as a tool to carry out artistic projects in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
This year’s World Oceans Day on June 8 is themed 'Wonderful Oceans: Sustaining What Sustains Us', while World Environment Day is on June 5 with the theme: 'Beat Plastic Pollution'.
According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment Le Huu Toan, a fire prevention and control plan has been in place since the dry season began, including round-the-clock patrols and rapid-response teams to snuff out fires before they could spread.
Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Its Forest Protection Sub-department has applied various specialised software and information technologies in forest management and protection and fire prevention.
In 2005, Nghe An had 570 captive bears, the largest number in Vietnam. Thanks to efforts by local authorities, forest rangers, and rescue forces, the number has fallen to just 15.
One of the photos displayed at the exhibition (Source: thethaovanhoa.vn) 
