Several streets in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City plunged into a sea of garbage after the 2025 New Year’s countdown and fireworks ended in the wee hours of Wednesday, January 1.

The Bach Dang Wharf area, which was crowded with residents and tourists during the countdown event, was blanketed with plastic bags, used plastic cups and cans, cartons and wrappers left behind by New Year revelers.

“I feel too disappointed to see a huge amount of garbage after this year’s event,” said Trieu, a resident of District 1.

“Many areas around the venues designated for New Year countdown parties and fireworks shows are strewn with trash.

“If everyone is environmentally aware, we would not see such a mess,” he said.

Trash cans are overflowing with garbage on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street, Ho Chi Minh City after the New Year countdown event ends in the wee hours of January 1, 2025. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street and the surrounding areas were flooded with rubbish left behind by thousands of revelers.

Leftovers and plastic garbage were scattered along downtown streets, causing a messy scene.

Quy, a worker at District 1 Public Services Company, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the company had mobilized over 10 trash trucks for clean-up efforts at Bach Dang Wharf and on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street.

The volume of garbage littered during this year’s event was larger than that recorded in previous years due to various promotional programs offered by nearby food and beverage stores.

It took sanitation workers a lot of time to clear away confetti, leftovers, and plastic trash.

“Despite the difficulties, we are determined to clean up trash-filled inner-city areas to restore the city’s cleanliness on the first day of the New Year,” he shared.

Several types of trash cover a section of Ton Duc Thang Street near Bach Dang Wharf after the New Year countdown event ends in the wee hours of January 1, 2025. Photo: Nguyen Khang / Tuoi Tre

Confetti scattered around the Bach Dang Wharf area, making life harder for sanitation workers to clean up. Photo: Nguyen Khang / Tuoi Tre

A pile of trash on Ton Duc Thang Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Young people and foreigners also joined hands to clear away trash in the Bach Dang Wharf area after the event.

Dulani, a tourist from Sri Lanka, said that such a huge amount of trash made it harder for sanitation workers on the first day of the New Year.

She hoped that revelers would be mindful of their responsibilities for environmental protection, especially after any big event.

A section of Huynh Thuc Khang Street near Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street full of garbage. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi Tre

Garbage left behind by New Year revelers, creating a messy scene on Ham Nghi Street in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T.T.D. / Tuoi Tre

Sanitation workers clear up rubbish at Bach Dang Wharf in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Khang / Tuoi Tre

Dulani (R) from Sri Lanka joins hands with young people in the city to clean up a trash-flooded area in downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Nguyen Khang / Tuoi Tre

Bach Dang Wharf Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City becomes spotless after over an hour of clean-up efforts. Photo: Nguyen Khang / Tuoi Tre

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