Quang Nam (VNS/VNA) – The ancient town of Hoi An, in the central province of Quang Nam, has launched a pilot plan on building the first zero plastic and pedestrian streets, as part of the project to create an eco-city, based on cultural and sustainable tourism, with a vision to become a ‘green’ and ‘smart’ city by 2050.
Vice Chairman of the Hoi An city People’s Committee Nguyen The Hung said the pilot will begin across two streets – Tran Phu and Nguyen Thi Minh Khai in the Old Quarter – in 2024 before expanding to the other streets.
A report from the city showed the area has 236 household businesses – of which half are garment, leather, bags, souvenir and soft drink sellers – on the two key pedestrian routes.
Tran Phu, which was voted as one of the 71 most beautiful streets in the world by Architectural Digest, a prestigious architecture magazine in 2024, has 168 façade houses.
It is a major street with favourite destinations and some of the oldest houses in the city, leading onto the iconic Japanese Bridge.
The authorities of Hoi An said all household business services in the two streets will be asked to start waste classification at source, while saying ‘No’ to single-use plastic cups, straws and bags, as well as signing up to wastewater treatment.
It said all the shops will be required to list the prices of all their products and services and will be banned from harassing visitors and will be asked to leave the pavements free.
Currently many of the shops illegally occupy the pavement with goods and advertisement panels, while fake and unclear original certificate products still remained at shops, the city said.
The pilot comes as the city launches a campaign of raising awareness of good-natured behaviour and hospitality and promoting a friendly tourism environment.
The good behaviour campaign introduced a code of conduct for local residents, promoting gentle manners when hosting tourists in public sites, restaurants and destinations in the quarter.
There are around 3,000 residents living in the Old Quarter and many families have preserved their ancestors’ traditionally polite behaviour.
Hoi An -- declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1999 -- has already pedestrianised an area in the west of the city, banning vehicles from 9am to 11am and from 3pm till 9:30pm during the rainy season and 10pm in summer.
The town has 1,439 relics and old houses, of which 80 per cent are in the Old Quarter.
Hoi An city officially became a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the Crafts and Folk Art category in 2023.
A series of traditional festivals in the old town have been recognised as national heritages including the Mid-Autumn Full Moon Festival and the annual Nguyen Tieu (full moon of lunar January) Festival, as well as Thanh Chau bird's nest, Thanh Ha Pottery Village, the carpentry trade of Kim Bong Village and the Tra Que vegetable garden.
Hammock weaving from tree bark (Firmiana colorata) and the craft of making houses from bamboo and nipa-palm in Cham Islands and Cẩm Thanh commune were also listed as national intangible heritages.
💃 Hoi An became the first city in Vietnam to ban dog and cat meat following an agreement with the Four Paws animal charity organisation./.
Related News
Hoi An, best value destinations of 2024
The ancient town of Hoi An has been named at No 1 place in the Top Best-Value Destination in the World in 2024 by The Post Office UK.
🐬 First low-carbon tourism certificate granted in Hoi An
First low-carbon tourism certificate granted in Hoi An
🐻 Hoi An orders collection of shipwreck’s carbon isotope samples
The collection of carbon isotope samples has been ordered to determine the age of a sunken wooden ship recently discovered near the coast of Cam An ward in the central province of Quang Nam’s Hoi An city.
See more
꧟ Mekong Delta climate resilience project benefits nearly 2 million people
Mariam Sherman, World Bank Country Director for Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, said the World Bank remains committed to working with the Vietnamese government to develop the next phase of climate resilience and transformation for the Mekong Delta.
🥂 PM orders strengthened disaster preparedness ahead of storm season
Under the directive, the PM instructed relevant agencies to regularly inspect, supervise and proactively implement disaster prevention, response and rescue measures in line with their assigned roles and mandates, ensuring readiness, avoiding passivity or delays, and maintaining operational continuity amid ongoing political and administrative restructuring at levels.
𒊎 Vietnam pioneers use of AI and remote sensing to monitor seawater quality
According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
🤡 Vietnam could cut 77,000 tonnes of packaging waste annually with deposit return system: study
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.
🌺 Vietnam could cut 77,000 tonnes of packaging waste annually with DRS
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.
ไ AI-driven sci-fi film delivers environmental protection message
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 targets 50% renewable energy in push for net zero
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.
🌌 “For a Green National Environment” programme launched
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.
♈ Kien Giang tightens management of Phu Quoc marine protected area
To improve awareness and navigation within the MPA, over 1,130 maps outlining the area’s zoning and subzones were printed and distributed.
♏ Wutip storm ravages central Vietnam, leaving trail of destruction
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.
This year's first typhoon hits East Sea
The typhoon is forecast to bring torrential rains to the central and Central Highlands regions between June 11 evening and June 13.
ꦑ 3.8-magnitude earthquake recorded in Kon Tum’s Kon Plong district
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.
💖 Vietnam engages in Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction
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.
💫 PM’s attendance at UNOC 3 affirms Vietnam’s commitments to maritime conservation
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.
🦋 From community recycling to national movement: Vietnam turns tide on plastic waste
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 joins UNESCO’s global geoparks network
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.
♔ Vietnam ramps up plastic waste recycling, reuse, treatment efforts
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.
💟 Series of events to held in response to World Oceans Day, UN World Environment Day
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'.
🌊 U Minh Thuong National Park reopens for tourists as fire risks ease
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.
💧 Hundreds of trees planted in Cuc Phuong National Park as part of Forestival
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.
