Tiếng Việt
When Keep Vietnam Clean (KVC) first arrived in Thuy Loi village (Dong Anh district), the concrete roads here had endured scorching heat for many summers. Midst the intense heat, the simple wish of Ms. Quy – Head of Thuy Loi village – to plant trees and green the area for local farmers to rest after working in the fields became the spark for a meaningful green journey. Partnering with KVC under the “Green Space for all” initiative, that personal dream turned into a collective movement, cooling down the landscape and spreading environmental awareness to every resident.
Article Outline
- Environmental landscape and the green dream in Thuy Loi Village
- The journey of planting seeds of hope by the dedicated Village Head
- Keep Vietnam Clean joins hands: From a personal dream to a green community initiative
- Positive transformations on village roads
- Partnering with Keep Vietnam Clean in CSR & Sustainability Reporting
Environmental landscape and the green dream in Thuy Loi Village
Located in the heart of Dong Anh district, Hanoi, Thuy Loi village has long suffered under the harsh sunlight along its dusty roads. Hot summers, combined with a lack of greenery, have magnified the “urban heat island” effect, leaving villagers – especially women, children, and the elderly returning from the fields – drenched in sweat with no shady place to rest.
Environmental statistics paint a stark reality: over the past decade, Hanoi’s urban green space dropped sharply from 36% to just 8%, worsening the heat island effect and driving air quality to some of the worst levels globally. These are not merely alarming statistics – they are the harsh daily reality faced by the residents of Thuy Loi.
Yet, amid this harsh environment, one woman quietly harbored a powerful dream. Ms. Quy, the beloved Head of Thuy Loi village, often shares her simple wish with a gentle smile:
“I just hope that one day, when our villagers return from working under the burning sun, they can sit and rest under the tall shade trees by the road, enjoy a cool breeze, and admire the vibrant purple crepe myrtle and fiery red flamboyant blossoms”
The journey of planting seeds of hope by the dedicated Village Head
That dream did not stem from grand ambition, but from deep empathy for the daily hardships and the community’s strong longing for a green line of trees. Upon being elected Village Head in 2020, Ms. Quy took her first decisive steps:
- 2021: As the commune invested in paving new concrete roads, she saw an opportunity for urban greening. She searched for saplings on her own, called on villagers to join, and planted the very first trees with her own hands, choosing Pride of India (Crepe Myrtle) for its vibrant blossoms, Royal Poinciana (Flamboyant) for its striking red color, and Madagascar Almond (Bàng Đài Loan) for its broad, cool canopy.
- 2022 – 2023: She expanded her tree-planting efforts, visiting households to encourage tree care while seeking additional support.
She often shared: “Planting trees is planting hope. We must choose trees that bring joy and color all year round.” However, with such a high demand for greening and limited local resources, creating a sustainable, large-scale impact remained a major challenge.
Keep Vietnam Clean joins hands: From a personal dream to a green community initiative
It was at this turning point that Keep Vietnam Clean (KVC) stepped in, serving as a bridge to transform an individual’s dream into a powerful collective movement.
The KVC team learned about Ms. Quy through Mr. Vu, a local resident who was familiar with KVC’s “Green Spaces for all” initiative aimed at expanding green spaces across communities, schools, and new rural residential areas. Recognizing her passion and the necessity of structured support with strict monitoring processes, KVC provided technical expertise, resources, and an actionable framework to bring the project to life.
Concrete Action Plan:
- Planting shade trees: Keep Vietnam Clean collaborated with the Thuy Loi community to plan the planting of 100 Pride of India trees along village roads.
- High-quality tree standards: Selected trees were approximately 2 meters tall with a trunk diameter of 5–6 cm to provide immediate shade, mitigate the urban heat island effect, and directly contribute to Vietnam’s national goal of planting 1 billion trees.
- Long-term commitment: Moving beyond initial planting, KVC committed to long-term monitoring, maintenance, and public reporting on the survival rate and growth of every tree.
Positive transformations on village roads
Today, the tree-planting dream of Ms. Quy and the villagers of Thuy Loi is blossoming. The first rows of trees have brought soothing green shade to once sun-baked roads. While the canopy is still developing, it already shelters schoolchildren on their way home and serves as an ideal resting spot for farmers after hours of field work.
The partnership between Keep Vietnam Clean and the local community has not only enhanced the environment but also sparked a strong sense of community responsibility:
- Raising environmental awareness: Residents are actively involved in caring for and protecting the shared trees.
- Expanding green initiatives: Inspired by the positive changes, Ms. Quy plans to attach small trash bins to tree trunks for proper disposal of pesticide bottles and containers, a clear testament to the growing environmental consciousness nurtured by the project.
The story of Thuy Loi proves the power of collaboration between organizations and local communities. While individual passion is the initial spark, long-term and sustainable change requires structured organizational support and dedicated resources. Keep Vietnam Clean is proud to serve as a catalyst, turning environmental challenges into opportunities for a greener, healthier Vietnam.
Build an effective CSR program with Keep Vietnam Clean
At Keep Vietnam Clean, we have spent years working on the practical side of CSR in Vietnam. We work with businesses to design and deliver environmental CSR programs: clean-ups, tree planting, public space improvement, and activities that connect employees with local communities.
Every activity concludes with a comprehensive impact summary – tracking the number of trees planted, participant engagement, real-time photo documentation, and periodic tree monitoring reports – enabling businesses to seamlessly integrate data into their Sustainability Reports (ESG), aligning with international standards such as the UN Global Compact.
You can read our story and browse what we have delivered so far to see how we work, or look at the services we offer businesses.
If your business is looking for an approach to CSR in Vietnam that creates real environmental impact, strengthens employee engagement and supports your sustainability goals, Keep Vietnam Clean is ready to build a solution that fits your organisation.
- Register for a consultation: keepvietnamclean.org/our-services
- Email: info@keepvietnamclean.org
- Contact: +84 97 450 63 50
