Green Vietnam Festival: Growing hub for green living in Ho Chi Minh City

Now in its second year, the event has evolved from a weekend activity into a recognizable community platform.

Young people arrive in groups, parents bring their children to learn about recycling, and businesses use the space to showcase new green solutions.

A place where green habits begin

Organizers intentionally chose the Youth Culture House, revealing that its central location and youthful energy were meant to spotlight the festival’s core message: young Vietnamese will be the drivers of the country’s green transition.

“Daily actions like sorting waste, reducing energy use, and choosing eco-friendly products are the foundation of a greener future,” Le The Chu, editor-in-chief of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, said during the opening ceremony.

Their message resonated. More than 300 students from Nguyen Tat Thanh University in the city arrived early, learning about recycling models and sustainable products.

Others tried hands-on activities, from waste-sorting challenges to quizzes on green lifestyles.

Families learning to live green together

The two-day fair has also attracted a growing number of parents hoping to teach their children practical environmental skills.

In front of a Suntory PepsiCo booth collecting plastic bottles, cans, and snack wrappers, 45-year-old Do Thi Thu An from Tan Binh Ward exchanged a bag of recyclables for a gift.

“I've already sorted waste at home,” she said, “but I came here to find out exactly where specialty waste like batteries should be dropped off.”

Nearby, Vu Van Tuan, who brought his five-year-old daughter, said he wanted her “to learn early that little things we throw away matter.”

Businesses respond to rising green expectations

A key marker of the Green Vietnam Festival’s growth is the increasing presence of major domestic and foreign companies, who see the fair as a chance to connect with eco-conscious consumers.

At a panel discussion, experts noted that Vietnamese buyers are becoming more selective, as they not just look at brand and quality, but also production standards, environmental certification, and packaging.

Companies like leading Vietnamese dairy producer Vinamilk, Thailand's Siam Cement Group, and members of Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam) shared how green transition strategies reduce waste, cut costs, and open doors to strict foreign markets.

A collective effort with emotional moments

Beyond corporate booths and student activities, small human stories stood out.

Minh, a resident from Duc Nhuan Ward, arrived carrying a large box filled with used batteries, which were collected not for himself, but at the request of his sick son, who insisted their home contribute to the recycling day.

A movement, not just an event

Green Vietnam is more than a festival. It is part of a broader campaign jointly launched by Tuoi Tre, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment’s Climate Change Department, and PRO Vietnam to promote a circular economy.

Nguyen Tuan Quang, deputy head of the Climate Change Department, said the momentum is encouraging.

“Young people are emerging as the core force pushing the green transition,” he said.

“Their choices today shape the sustainable future we aim for by 2050.”

As the crowd poured through the Youth Culture House and the sound of children’s laughter mixed with the clatter of recyclable materials being sorted, the 2025 Green Vietnam Festival feels less like a single event and more like the early steps of a city learning to live green together.