Hanoi kicks off citywide clean-up drive

THE HANOI TIMES — The Hanoi People's Committee today [August 2] launched a citywide environmental cleanup campaign to strongly build a brighter, greener, cleaner, and more livable city.

At August Revolution Square in Cua Nam Ward, Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh stressed that the campaign reflects the city's commitment to strengthening leadership and coordination in improving environmental sanitation and managing urban order.

“The launch demonstrates the city's clear commitment, responsibility, and concrete actions in building a modern and civilized capital,” Thanh said.

Over the years, Hanoi has seen notable improvements in sanitation, urban appearance, and public awareness, resulting in many greener and cleaner streets and neighborhoods and residents’ better sense of responsibility.

However, Thanh also pointed out ongoing issues such as lingering waste in residential areas, illegal advertising, sidewalk encroachment, and untreated pollution in urban rivers in addition to limited awareness of environmental protection among a portion of officials and citizens.

"We cannot allow waste to be dumped carelessly on the streets, into rivers and lakes, or burned openly, polluting the air and water and harming our living environment," he stressed.

Thanh explained that the simultaneous environmental cleanup efforts in 126 communes and wards are not just one-time actions but part of a broader movement to reshape public awareness and behaviors.

Each citizen should be seen as an “environmental guardian,” every neighborhood as a model of cleanliness and greenery, and each organization as a key player in maintaining urban order, the city mayor asserted.

On this occasion, Thanh called on all officials, party members, and residents to take practical action, starting with small daily habits like disposing of waste properly and keeping homes and workplaces clean.

He urged that environmental protection be embraced as a daily habit and a cultural value.

To sustain this effort, he asked local party committees and governments to treat environmental sanitation as a regular political responsibility, directly linked to the role of local leaders.

Cleanup campaigns should become weekly routines, on Fridays at offices and on Saturdays in communities, Thanh said.

He also called on agencies, schools, businesses, and neighborhoods to create concrete action plans, establish self-governed sanitation models, and routinely monitor and strictly handle violations.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front - Hanoi and other mass organizations were encouraged to expand movements such as “Trash-Free Neighborhoods,” “Green Sundays,” “Reviving Rivers and Lakes,” and “Model Streets” to raise awareness and engage the public.

Thanh called for the education sector to reinforce environmental values among students, turning them into advocates in their homes and communities.

Meanwhile, media outlets are tasked with highlighting positive examples and innovative practices while also calling out irresponsible behavior that damages the environment.

Thanh stressed that efforts must be systematic, well-planned, and regularly monitored.

In response to the city's call, Nguyen Quoc Hoan, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Nam Ward, committed to improving awareness and accountability among all residents and organizations.

He pledged to work with local mass organizations to strengthen outreach and encourage community involvement in environmental efforts.

According to Hoan, Cua Nam Ward will promote campaigns such as “Green Weekends” and “Trash-Free Neighborhoods” and maintain weekly cleanups on Friday afternoons at offices and Saturday mornings in residential areas.

The ward also plans to build effective self-managed sanitation models and carry out practical actions like planting more trees, reducing plastic waste, improving garbage collection systems, controlling pollution sources, phasing out coal stoves, and monitoring construction sites.

At the event, city leaders and sanitation workers from Hanoi Urban Environment Company joined forces to clean up the flower garden and surrounding areas of August Revolution Square.

Also on this occasion, staff from the Hanoi Center for Agricultural and Environmental Technology and sanitation workers placed free restroom signage around Cua Nam Ward and nearby areas, making it easier for both residents and tourists to find public facilities.