Several eateries, drink shops, and tourist venues on Phu Quoc Island off the coast of Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam have shifted to eco-friendly paper cups and straws and wooden forks and spoons, surprising a female foreigner.

Lots of food and drink establishments at Phu Quoc International Airport and many tourist destinations and lodging facilities on the island use paper cups, bamboo straws and wooden spoons to serve customers.

Vasilenko Daria, a Russian tourist, recently visited Phu Quoc Island to relax with her family and friends.

The island boasts beautiful natural landscapes, white sand beaches, and crystal-clear blue water. Locals on Phu Quoc are also known for being friendly and enthusiastic. 

On the island, tourist sites and accommodation facilities prioritize eco-friendly products such as paper cups and bamboo straws.

“Though I have visited several places, I was especially impressed by Phu Quoc Island as the locale takes environmental protection into account.

“Paper cups and bamboo straws are being used to serve tourists,” Daria said.

According to Tran Quoc Chau, director at Radisson Blu Resort Phu Quoc, environmentally responsible business practices are not only a choice but also a need to develop tourism.

Eco-friendly products are costlier than plastic, but the resort still uses the former to serve guests with the hope of playing its part to protect the island’s landscapes and leave a good impression on local and international travelers.

“Tourists appreciate the use of eco-friendly products, so we will continue turning this resort into a gorgeous and luxurious lodging facility associated with environmental protection on Phu Quoc,” Chau underscored.

Paper cups, straws, wooden spoons and forks are used at an eatery at Phu Quoc International Airport. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Thi Thanh Trang, manager of stores under Autogrill VFS F&B at Phu Quoc International Airport, said that the firm’s food and beverage establishments have said no to plastic bags, cups, and straws for several months.

As of January 2024, the store chain had reduced 95 percent of its plastic waste.

“These establishments are using paper cups and straws, and eco-friendly spoons and boxes.

“We pledge to protect the environment to develop Phu Quoc into a green, clean, and beautiful island,” Trang said.

Many stores and restaurants at the Phu Quoc International Airport have switched to using eco-friendly cups, straws, and spoons to serve tourists, said Nguyen Minh Dong, director of the airport.

“The airport welcomes millions of local and international visitors to the island each year. Therefore, we attach importance to environmental protection and encourage tourists and stores at the airport to build a clean and healthy environment,” Dong stressed.

Tourists are satisfied with the use of eco-friendly products at many eateries and tourist sites on Phu Quoc Island. Photo: Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre

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