Thua Thien Hue is working hard to become a green tourist destination. (Photo: VOV)

Thuy Bieu village is piloting the first plastic waste reduction model in Hue, currently involving 15 establishments.

Tourists are encouraged to carry their own water container and refill it for free at 5 free water supply points. Free water bottles are provided to anyone who doesn’t have one. Free raincoats and umbrellas are  available for those who rent bicycles. Free shopping bags and food containers are being provided to tourists who participate in cooking classes. Hotels and guest houses are offering refillable glass water bottles and shampoo containers in place of plastic items.

Tran Quang Hao, Chairman of the Provincial Community Tourism Association, said, “It’s tourists who need plastic reduction tours but local people are also eager to participate.”

The Thua Thien Hue Tourism Association has organized activities to reduce single-use plastic litter generated by hotels, travel agencies, and community tourism sites.

After one year of implementing the program, multiple tourism service providers have adopted a plastic reduction plan based on the 6 principles of waste management: Refuse - Reduce - Reuse - Replace - Recycle - Collect.

Do Thi Ai My, an employee of the Imperial Hue Hotel, said the awareness of tourism businesses and service providers has changed significantly.

“Working and interacting with customers, I’m aware of the importance of reducing plastic waste. The hotel’s spa service now uses reusable items made from reeds. We also use straws made from rice to reduce plastic waste,” said Ai My.

Tourists experience cooking at Thuy Bieu community tourism village, Hue city. (Photo: VOV)

Twenty-two hotels in Thua Thien Hue province, 70% of the municipal Hotel Association, have committed to reducing single-use plastic products. They now use environment-friendly items like bamboo charcoal pens, recycled water bottles, and bioplastics, and have waste collection and sorting stations.

Chau thi Hoang Mai, Executive Director of the Alba Hue Hotel, said, “We hope these actions will spread and the city’s tourism community will pay more attention to reducing single-use plastic waste.”

Since last August, the municipal Tourism Association has been holding training sessions to raise awareness about plastic waste reduction.

Nguyen Hoang Thuy Vy, the Association’s Deputy President, said they hope that in the next stage there will be new models and initiatives. “In the meantime we’ll replicate these activities.”

Hue has earned several titles, including City of Culture of ASEAN and ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City. It’s been a pioneer in the sustainable green development movement, and was recognized by the World Wildlife Fund as an ASEAN Green City in 2024.

Vinh Thong - Le Hieu