OVER 120 VOLUNTEERS JOINED CLEAN-UP EVENTS IN BO DE WARD AND THUY LOI VILLAGE (FEB 2026): CONTINUE THE 10-YEAR JOURNEY OF THE “KITCHEN GOD DAY” CAMPAIGN

On February 8 and 10, 2026 (the 21st and 23rd days of the Lunar month), Keep Vietnam Clean organized a riverbank clean-up campaign across five locations in Bo De Ward and Thuy Loi Village, Hanoi, as part of the “Kitchen God Day 2026 – Action for the Kitchen Gods Festival” campaign.

The year 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the Kitchen God Day campaign, which has been consistently implemented to promote sustainable ritual practices and reduce environmental pollution during the Lunar New Year period.

05 CLEAN-UP LOCATIONS

The campaign was carried out at the following sites:

  • Bo De Pagoda, Bo De Ward
  • Ghenh Temple, Bo De Ward
  • Alley 2 Phu Vien, Bo De Ward
  • Ngoc Lam Ferry Terminal, Bo De Ward
  • Area 7, Thuy Loi Village

These locations are key gathering points where residents perform the traditional ritual of releasing carp and burning joss paper offerings before the Kitchen Gods Festival, resulting in significant amounts of ash, ceremonial items, and plastic waste along the riverbanks.

NEARLY 02 TONS OF WASTE COLLECTED AND SORTED

With a shared commitment to environmental protection, volunteers collected and sorted nearly two tons of waste, including:

  • 780.7 kg of votive paper ash
  • 603 kg of ceremonial offerings
  • 306.4 kg of plastic waste, primarily plastic bags

For the first time, KVC piloted the collection, sorting, and transportation of 46.9 kg of clean plastic bags (wet but uncontaminated plastic) in collaboration with a sorting facility in Bac Ninh and the Vinatic recycling plant in Hai Phong. This initiative marks an important step toward source separation and strengthening circular waste management practices.

This year’s campaign also launched communications activities highlighting the environmental and public health impacts of votive paper ash. Following the campaign, KVC will continue researching treatment solutions for ash and low-value plastics to further reduce pollution and enhance waste circularity.

120 VOLUNTEERS TAKE ACTION

The event welcomed 120 volunteers from various organizations, including:

  • Ho Chi Minh Youth Union of Bo De Ward
  • Youth Union of Vietnam Airlines
  • German Embassy Hanoi
  • Volunteer team of InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72
  • Volunteers from Keep Vietnam Clean

Notably, Vietnam Airlines sponsored 50 meals for volunteers across the two implementation days and assigned staff members to support on-site activities directly.

DEDICATION TO OUR PARTNERS

Keep Vietnam Clean would like to express sincere appreciation to:

Accompanying Sponsors: EXO Travel, British International School Hanoi (BIS), and Acacia International Pre-school.

Silver Sponsor: Asian Trails;

Bronze Sponsors: Pacific Environment Vietnam (PEVN), Hanoi Toronto School (HTS), Enzyco, Wide Eyed Tours & Travel, and Kapiti College;

TOGETHER WITH KVC FOR A GREENER AND 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 #KitchenGodDay2026