Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre) and other representatives joined a walk on June 6 this year to launch a national campaign against plastic waste (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Ministerof Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien has signed an instruction asking organisations inthe health sector to strictly minimise plastic waste.
Theinstruction followed guidance from Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc aboutreducing plastic waste.
Tien saidthat plastic waste impacts ecology, the environment, people’s health and thecountry’s sustainable development.
In thehealth sector alone, plastic waste was created from different activities suchas daily work of medical workers and patients, wrappings, production and trade.
Tienconfirmed that the plastic items could be replaced with other safe andenvironment-friendly ones if all workers in the health sector and people workedtogether.
Under herinstruction, medicine and medical equipment could be wrapped withenvironment-friendly materials, or recycled.
Disposablebags, bottles, cups, bowls or plates should be limited.
The normsof reducing plastic waste will be listed as working regulations in the healthsector.
Allmedical workers will receive training and guidance on the issue.-VNA
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The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) held a meeting in Hanoi on July 17 to discuss the launch of a national action programme on plastics for Vietnam.
Vietnam stands ready to join regional and international efforts in building mechanisms and regulations in order to promote cooperation in tackling marine litter, Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed on July 25.
Vietnam is among the top countries of plastic waste dumped into the world’s oceans each year. Movements to reduce plastic pollution and make the world cleaner are becoming popular in communities.
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According to Dr. Vu Anh Tuan, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam Space Centre and head of the project, this is the first study in Vietnam to simultaneously employ Sentinel-2 satellite data, advanced machine learning algorithms, and the Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing platform to model and monitor key seawater quality parameters.
The Deposit Return System is seen as a potential instrument for effectively advancing Vietnam’s vision of a circular economy, as outlined in Article 142 of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection.
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Saigon Hi-Tech Park’s ambitious 50% renewable energy goal far exceeds the city’s 15% target, positioning the park as a trailblazing “living lab” for sustainable energy solutions.
Vietnam's economic losses from natural disasters are estimated to account for 1 to 1.5% of GDP annually - a steep price that will continue to rise unless the country takes strong action.
Wutip, the first storm in the East Sea so far this year, has wreaked havoc across central Vietnam, claiming lives, displacing residents, and causing widespread damage to houses, crops, and infrastructure, the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention and Control reported as of 6:30 pm on June 13.
The tremor occurred at 7:39:46 am (Hanoi time), with the epicentre located at latitude 14.924°N and longitude 108.236°E, at a depth of approximately 8.1 kilometres. The natural disaster risk level was classified as 0 – the lowest on the scale.
Addressing a session on “Accelerating Financing for Resilience: Tailored Solutions for Disaster Risk Reduction,” Deputy Minister Hiep emphasised Vietnam's proposal in building sustainable financing in response to natural disasters, which aligns with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction's goals.
Vietnam has demonstrated its strong commitments by participating in global sustainable development forums, signing multiple free trade agreements, and attracting support from international partners for the implementation of the SDGs.
The fight against plastic pollution could not succeed through isolated efforts, but it must be a collective endeavour involving the entire political system, businesses, citizens, and the international community, said Minister of Agriculture and Environment Do Duc Duy.
Lang Son Global Geopark, with its outstanding geological values, cultural heritage, and unique natural landscapes, represents a valuable addition to UNESCO’s global geoparks system.
In 2019, Quang Ninh became one of the first localities in Vietnam to launch a province-wide campaign against plastic waste, mobilising the participation of the political system, the business sector, and the general public. Other localities—such as Hai Phong, Da Nang, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City—have also effectively implemented waste-sorting initiatives at source, along with models for plastic-free markets and urban areas.
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Renowned artists including Ha Anh Tuan, Den Vau, and Phan Manh Quynh, along with many directors and attendees, took part in planting hundreds of rare tree species such as mun (Diospyros mun) and cho chi (Parashorea chinensis) in the Thung Bong area of the Cuc Phuong National Park, contributing to forest ecosystem restoration.
The dispatch noted that since the beginning of 2025, natural disasters have claimed 29 lives and left several others missing. A total of 67 houses have collapsed, and 2,342 homes have been unroofed or damaged.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre) and other representatives joined a walk on June 6 this year to launch a national campaign against plastic waste (Photo: VNA) 
