Hue City is emerging as a model for community-driven environmental action in Viet Nam, where schools, citizens, and local institutions are working together to tackle plastic pollution. Through a series of on-ground initiatives, from the Plastic Reduction School Model to large-scale clean-ups and sustainable tourism programmes, Hue is not only reducing waste but also cultivating a culture of sustainability among students, educators, small businesses and residents.
180 Schools with 54,000+ Students Join Hue’s “Plastic Reduction School Model”
From 2022 to 2025, the Hue project has been at the forefront of promoting sustainable living through its flagship initiative: the Plastic Reduction School Model. This city-wide effort aims to instill environmentally responsible habits in students by transforming schools into hubs promoting plastic waste reduction and circular economy.
The Plastic Reduction School Model has seen remarkable engagement across Hue City since its launch. A total of 180 schools have actively participated in the initiative, reaching more than 54,000 students who are now involved in hands-on environmental activities.
Nearly 30 tonnes of recyclable waste have been collected through the programme, including over 5.5 tonnes of plastic, while 6,200 students have been trained using the Participatory Action-Oriented Training (PAOT) approach, which emphasizes active learning and student-led solutions. To support waste segregation and recycling efforts, 117 “Green Houses” have been installed on school grounds, serving as collection points for recyclable materials. Additionally, over 600 class sessions on plastic waste and environmental awareness have been integrated into the school curriculum, embedding sustainability into everyday learning.
700 Join Forces for Hue Plogging 2025, Removing 3.2 Tonnes of Waste
On June 1, 2025, approximately 700 participants gathered for Hue Plogging 2025 in celebration of World Environment Day. The event brought together local officials, youth union members, students, residents, and tourists to collect waste across four key locations: Vinh Thanh beach, An Hai Beach, Chuon Lagoon, and Ngu My Thanh – Con Toc, while spreading awareness on the importance of reducing plastic waste, especially single-use plastics..
In just three hours, participants collected over 3.2 tonnes of waste, which were predominantly plastic. In addition, 27 tonnes of water hyacinth (an invasive plant species that threatens local ecosystems) and 5 tonnes of construction debris were removed from the Chuon Lagoon area.
Hue Develops Community-Based Tourism to Cut Plastic & Enhance Green Experiences
Continuing the journey of building sustainable tourism in Hue, the project is also supporting Hue Tourism College and other tour operators to organize tours that offer alternatives to single-use plastic . Tourists in Hue are encouraged to bring their own water bottles, cloth bags, and minimize single-use plastics, while local service providers such as homestays and restaurants are switching to eco-friendly materials like bamboo, ceramic, and glass.
Four Plastic Reduction Tourism Destinations including Thuy Bieu Eco-Village, Thanh Toan Tile-Roofed Bridge, Ngu My Thanh – Con Toc and Chuon Lagoon have officially committed to reducing disposable plastics. With strong support from the local government, the community has invested in green equipment and alternatives, building a destination that is both sustainable and welcoming.
Over 29 tonnes of waste collected through the “Make Hue Cleaner” Contest
From May 20 to June 20, 2025, Hue’s Plastic Smart Cities initiative collaborated with Hue’s city government’s Intelligent Operations Center (Hue IOC) to organize the “Make Hue Cleaner” contest via the Hue-S mobile application, a widely used platform in Hue City.
A unique feature of the contest was that Hue residents could participate either as individuals or in teams by registering through the Hue-S app. After registering, participants could select any polluted location in Hue City to carry out waste collection. Once the cleanup was completed, teams or individuals submitted photos and reports via the app to update their achievements.
After one month of implementation, the contest recorded impressive results:
- 249 registrations, including 107 teams and 142 individuals
- 160 environmental activities carried out and recorded on the Hue-S app
- 100 valid “Green Sunday” events with meaningful environmental actions
- 11,380 participants directly engaged in the activities
- 29,218 kg of waste collected, including 1,911 kg of plastic waste
Read more on about Hue’s Plastic Smart Cities on LinkedIn.
