Young people embrace sustainable living at Green Vietnam Festival 2026

With the theme ‘Green Transition - Sustainable Efficiency,’ the festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday at Phan Dinh Phung Park, 123 Pasteur Street, Xuan Hoa Ward, bringing together around 50 booths operated by Vietnamese and foreign-invested businesses.

From early Saturday morning, large crowds, especially students and young adults, visited the festival grounds.

The atmosphere was lively as participants joined hands-on activities ranging from waste sorting and recycling demonstrations to product displays highlighting sustainable materials and environmentally conscious consumption.

One of the most popular attractions was the program allowing visitors to exchange recyclable waste such as plastic bottles, aluminum cans and used paper for gifts.

Organizers said the activity is intended to encourage waste segregation at the source while making environmental protection more accessible and engaging.

Tran Quoc Bao, an 18-year-old student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Law, learned about the event through Facebook and information shared by his university.

“I find today's activities very meaningful,” Bao said.

“They help people better understand recycling and contribute to making the environment cleaner and greener. Through the festival, messages about sustainable living become easier for young people like us to understand and embrace.”

Dang Hoai Nam, 19, attended the festival with friends and said he was impressed by the enthusiasm of participating organizations.

“They actively share knowledge and guide young people in adopting environmentally friendly habits,” Nam said.

“I want to become an environmental citizen. In daily life, I try to dispose of waste properly, sort trash and save electricity and water.”

Many visitors arrived carrying bags filled with used plastic bottles and other recyclable materials. Among them was Le Phan Thanh Truc, an 11th-grade student at Marie Curie High School.

“The waste-for-gifts activity left a strong impression on me,” Truc said.

“I sorted my waste into the appropriate bins and received a lovely small plant.”

She added that she hopes to promote environmental awareness through her school's social media channels, helping spread sustainable-living messages among friends.

The event also provided a platform for youth-led environmental projects.

Do Bui Thuy An, a 19-year-old student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages and Information Technology, participated as a theater ambassador for the ‘Rung Ke’ (Forests Tell Stories) project under the Gen Zero initiative founded by Miss World Vietnam 2024 and Miss World 2026 Top 6 finalist Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc.

An said she was particularly impressed by the green food section, which introduces healthy and environmentally conscious food options.

In her daily life, she tries to reduce plastic waste by carrying a reusable water bottle, avoiding single-use plastic containers and using eco-friendly cleaning products.

For Le Thanh Tai, an 18-year-old student at the University of Economics and Law, the festival offered both environmental education and entertainment.

Tai and his friends planned to stay until evening to enjoy the outdoor music performances after spending the day exploring booths and participating in activities.

Green Vietnam 2026: Green Transition - Sustainable Efficiency

Green Vietnam is an initiative launched by Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper, the Department of Climate Change under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, and the Packaging Recycling Organization Vietnam (PRO Vietnam), in cooperation with other partners.

Under the 2026 theme, organizers are conducting a wide range of activities throughout the year focusing on circular economy practices, renewable energy, waste sorting, producer responsibility programs, sustainable agriculture, green business tours and public awareness campaigns.

The program aims to strengthen public understanding of sustainability while mobilizing businesses, organizations and communities to take practical action toward environmental protection and long-term sustainable development.

Leading companies supporting Green Vietnam 2026 include AgriS, Signify Vietnam, SCG Group, Nestlé Vietnam, TH Milk Food, Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam, Duy Tan Recycling, INSEE Cement, MCV Group, BIZMAN Investment, and the Vietnam E-Commerce Association.