Let's work together for a "plastic-free" island.

Over the years, the environmental protection message has been implemented and spread throughout Con Dao Special Economic Zone's journey to becoming Vietnam's first "plastic-free destination." Con Dao became the ninth locality in Vietnam to join the global "Plastic-Free Cities" network initiated by WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) and is striving to become the country's first "plastic-free destination."

Green tourism culture

Having just experienced a trip to the Con Dao Special Economic Zone, Ms. Le Thi Dung (from Lam Dong province) said that before boarding the boat, she was advised not to bring single-use plastic items; upon arriving at the small island, she was reminded to limit the use of plastic bags and other plastic products. “I think that’s a very civilized way of behaving. In Con Dao, saying ‘no’ to plastic waste is absolutely essential because this island is so peaceful, clean, and ecologically diverse, something rarely found elsewhere,” Ms. Dung shared.

Authorities participate in collecting ocean debris within the Con Dao National Park.

The "plastic-free destination" program is being implemented widely across the island. One initiative that has received positive feedback from tourists is the "Green Offering Basket" model at Hang Duong Cemetery. Ms. Tran Thi Vinh, a tour guide at the Ba Ria - Vung Tau Museum and Library (responsible for the Con Dao area), said: "Previously, the amount of waste generated from religious ceremonies at the cemetery was quite large, especially floral foam, plastic bags, and votive paper. Now, environmentally friendly offering baskets are being used, significantly reducing the amount of waste and air pollution."

Simultaneously, campaigns to clean the seabed and collect garbage in mangrove forests and marine protected areas are regularly organized, with the participation of forest rangers, volunteers, and local people. In addition, community awareness is changing daily. Local people have formed the habit of sorting waste at source and reducing the use of plastic bags in their daily lives. Many tourists proactively bring their own water bottles, cloth bags, or refuse to use single-use plastic items when staying on the island. These small actions are creating a new "green tourism culture" in Con Dao. Furthermore, many accommodation establishments in Con Dao have proactively replaced plastic water bottles with glass bottles, used paper straws, paper bags, and other environmentally friendly materials...

Locals are united, and tourists are supportive.

Con Dao Island has long been known as a "paradise of islands and beaches," but it also suffers greatly from plastic waste. Plastic waste not only appears on beaches but also infiltrates mangrove forests, gets trapped in coral reefs, and becomes a direct threat to marine life.

According to Mr. Phan Trong Hien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Con Dao Special Zone, to address this issue, since March 2022, the People's Committee of Con Dao District (now Con Dao Special Zone, Ho Chi Minh City) and WWF-Vietnam have signed a commitment to implement the campaign "Con Dao - A Destination for Plastic Reduction". To realize this goal, a series of activities have been implemented synchronously over the years. "Plastic Reduction Week" is organized throughout the island with many interactive activities for the community and tourists, such as exchanging trash for gifts, the "Plastic Sea Adventure" exhibition, and collecting trash on beaches and coral reefs. In schools, the "Plastic-Free School" model is incorporated into extracurricular activities, guiding students in waste sorting, recycling old items, and limiting the use of single-use plastics.

The persistent efforts over the past period have yielded tangible results. In just four years, 95% of small traders in Con Dao no longer use non-biodegradable plastic bags; 145 out of 145 accommodation establishments have committed to reducing the use of plastic products. The locality has also reduced the use of 6.7 tons of styrofoam in services and processed 50 tons of waste on-site through recycling.

The message "Come without plastic - leave with love" is not just a slogan displayed at Con Dao's airports, ports, and famous beaches, but is gradually becoming a new style of tourism. Handbooks titled "Reduce Plastic When Traveling to Con Dao," and posters encouraging the reduction of single-use plastics placed in hotels, restaurants, and resorts have contributed to changing tourists' awareness from the moment they set foot on the island.

“The Con Dao Special Economic Zone has set a plan: 100% of household solid waste will be collected and thoroughly processed each year, and all medical waste must be safely and properly treated. The locality also aims for 90% of households to sort waste at source by 2028 and to reach 100% by 2030,” Mr. Phan Trong Hien emphasized.

The "plastic reduction" journey in Con Dao is a reminder of humanity's responsibility to nature. Con Dao is gradually transforming itself to become a model of green tourism in Vietnam. With the determination of the government, the cooperation of businesses, locals, and tourists, the dream of a "plastic-free" island is becoming a reality. When that happens, the most beautiful thing each tourist will take home after their trip will not only be photos of the blue sea and white sand, but also the feeling that they have contributed to preserving a paradise in the middle of the ocean.

QUANG VU

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/chung-tay-vi-hon-dao-khong-rac-nhua-post854918.html