Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City have joined hands to clean up a local canal to mark the beginning of a large-scale environmental campaign across the southern Vietnamese metropolis.

Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan, Chairman of the People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong, and other high-ranking officials participated in a clean-up at the Lang Canal in Binh Thanh District on Sunday.

The activity was part of the kick-off ceremony of a years-long campaign that encourages citizens to stop littering along streets and canals, and which is aimed at keeping the city clean and alleviating inundation.

The campaign will conclude in October 2020.

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City attend the kick-off ceremony of the environmental campaign on October 21, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

At the event, chairman Phong called on all residents to start protecting the environment by such simple activities as limiting the use of plastic bags and tidying the public space in front of their houses.

“Each citizen should contribute to a more civilized and modern city with better living conditions. This is how we show our love to the city,” the leader remarked.

Environmental pollution, especially waste-related problems, is one of the challenges to the socio-economic development of the metropolis, Phong continued.

People clean up the Lang Canal on October 21, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The chairman tasked the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with district-level administrations, with adding more recycle bins across the city, raising awareness among young students, and preventing garbage to pile up in residential areas.The issue arose from poor awareness among residents and lack of coordination between competent authorities in dealing with the situation, he added.

Following the ceremony, a group of volunteers joined hands to redecorate old tires and used them to build a children’s playground.

Residents in Ward 12, Binh Thanh District were also gifted new recycle bins as part of the event.

People clean up the Lang Canal on October 21, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

People clean up the Lang Canal on October 21, 2018. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Design of a children’s playground made from old tires and other recycle material. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Volunteers decorate old tires to build the playground. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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