TRAINING EVENT “PRACTICING A SUSTAINABLE TẾT” IN BỒ ĐỀ WARD AND THỤY LÔI VILLAGE (JanUARY 2026): JOIN KEEP VIETNAM CLEAN TOWARD A ZERO-WASTE TẾT

In the days leading up to Lunar New Year 2026, Keep Vietnam Clean (KVC) organized a series of training sessions titled “Practicing a Sustainable Tết” to accompany local communities in building civilized and environmentally friendly cultural practices. The events were part of the campaign “Kitchen God Day 2026 – Action for the Kitchen Gods Tradition,” taking place on January 24, 2026 in Bồ Đề Ward and January 25, 2026 in Thụy Lôi Village, Thư Lâm Commune, Hanoi, attracting the participation of 209 members from the Women’s Union, Veterans’ Association, and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Bồ Đề Ward.

A DIALOGUE SPACE ON TẾT HABITS THROUGH AN ENVIRONMENTAL LENS

The two training sessions were designed as open sharing spaces where familiar Tết customs—from burning votive paper and releasing carp to household waste management—were revisited from the perspectives of public health and environmental protection. The program focused on two main topics:

  • The impacts of burning votive paper on the environment and human health, presented by Ms. Bùi Ngọc Diệp – Director of Keep Vietnam Clean;
  • The effects of plastic waste on ecosystems, shared by Ms. Nguyễn Thị Trà My – KVC Project Officer.

Through visual materials, interactive questions, and relatable examples, participants engaged in discussions on:

  • The current situation of votive paper burning and plastic waste in Vietnam;
  • The impacts of smoke and ash on air quality, water sources, and family health;
  • Practical solutions applicable during Tết, such as minimizing votive offerings, properly handling ash, prioritizing traditional paper offerings, waste separation at source, and reducing single-use plastics.

CHANGE STARTS FROM COMMUNITY AWARENESS

Beyond providing knowledge, the training sessions encouraged residents to share real experiences from their families and neighborhoods. Many participants raised questions about how to treat ash after burning rituals, alternatives to plastic items on Tết offering trays, and ways to encourage younger generations to change habits.

This proactive engagement demonstrates that local communities are gradually becoming agents of solutions rather than passive recipients of information. This is also the core goal that KVC pursues on its journey to promote a zero-waste lifestyle.

DEDICATION TO OUR PARTNERS

Keep Vietnam Clean would like to express sincere appreciation to:

  • Silver Sponsor: Asian Trails;
  • Bronze Sponsors: Pacific Environment Vietnam (PEVN), Hanoi Toronto School (HTS), Enzyco, Wide Eyed Tours & Travel, and Kapiti College;
  • Accompanying Sponsors: EXO Travel, British International School Hanoi (BIS), and Acacia International Pre-school.

We are grateful for the close cooperation of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Bồ Đề Ward and the Management Board of Thụy Lôi Village (Zones 5, 6, 7) in organizing the events locally. In particular, the training session in Thụy Lôi was supported by the Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA) – Zero Waste Asia, as part of International Zero Waste Month 2026 initiated by GAIA.Keep Vietnam Clean also sincerely thanks ENZYCO for sponsoring meaningful gifts of eco-friendly cleaning products such as bio multi-purpose cleaners and bio laundry detergents. These practical gifts encouraged residents to begin adopting green lifestyles right within their homes.

TOGETHER WITH KVC FOR A GREEN – PEACEFUL – SUSTAINABLE TẾT

What KVC values most after each program is not only the knowledge shared, but also the spirit of listening and the desire for change from the community. A sustainable Tết does not come from grand gestures, but from small everyday choices: one less bundle of votive paper, one more act of waste sorting, one fewer plastic bag.

KVC believes that with the joint efforts of local residents and partners, the message of a zero-waste Tết will continue to spread, contributing to the protection of the environment and the health of every Vietnamese family.

#KeepVietnamClean #CSR #ESG #CleanUpGreenUpOurCities