Before a group of backpackers came to Vung Tau beach in southern Vietnam, it resembled a garbage dump. By the time they left, the only thing left was beautiful greenery.

A group of young backpackers calling themselves “O! Phuot di!” (Yea! Let’s Go Backpacking), are determined to take action in protecting, preserving and restoring the natural beauty along the roads.  

“Collecting plastic bags and recycling” is the group’s slogan.

With that in mind, they set off to Binh Chau beach in Vung Tau determined to make it as clean as it once was.

Binh Chau was once a favorite beach in the south of Vietnam. However, due to overexploitation the beach was soon filled with trash and despised by many travelers.

Over 500 participants arrived at the beach and almost immediately began collecting garbage and plastic bags in a 1km radius area.

The participants created a long line, resembling a conveyor belt, to their van parked near the beach.

They handed the garbage to each other until the whole area was left with only leaves and greenery. Over 600 garbage bags worth of trash were collected and taken away on the day.

Nguyen Tuan Anh, administrator of the fanpage “O! Phuot di!” with over 95,000 members, said that this was the third time the community had held a movement to collect garbage while backpacking.

On the last trip in June 2016, the group went to Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh Province. At the top of the mountain they collected over half a ton of garbage including bottles and leftover food. Later they brought the garbage down the hill on the 1km-long road.  

In 2015 the group held their first trip to clean the Ba Den Mountain.

Besides cleaning up the hill, the group also put a reminder banner every kilometer to remind people to keep the area clean and protect the environment.

“With a backpack on the shoulders, bring the garbage home,” says the banner.

Box: #ngungxarac (Stop Littering) is a hashtag used by “O! Phuot di!” group to spread the message of not littering and protecting the environment while going on a backpacking trip.

The backpacking group announces clearly on its fanpage prior to each trip: “We promise to collect garbage at every place we stop #ngungxarac.”

The motorbike is also used to transport the garbage bags. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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