Beautiful coastal villages: 'Precious gems' say no to plastic waste

A bold journey to 'quit' plastic addiction.

Located about 20 km from Cua Dai beach (Hoi An Dong ward, Da Nang city – Hoi An city, former Quang Nam province), Cham Island is now more accessible than ever. Instead of taking nearly 3 hours by ferry as before, tourists only need 20 minutes of speedboat travel to reach the island.

As soon as they disembark, a breath of fresh, cool air from the trees seems to dispel all the stifling atmosphere of the city; moreover, visitors are completely captivated by the unspoiled beauty and the peaceful, idyllic fishing village.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: 'Viên ngọc quý' nói không với rác thải nhựa - Ảnh 1. — A view of Cu Lao Cham Island

In 2009, when Cu Lao Cham was recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve, a new chapter opened for this idyllic island. Many international organizations acknowledge Cu Lao Cham as a brilliant example of success thanks to its "conservation as livelihood" strategy.

This place is now not only a center for cultural and biodiversity conservation, but also the first place in Vietnam to successfully eliminate plastic bags.

The story of Cham Island's fight against plastic waste began in 2009. To implement the "Say No to Plastic Bags" campaign, the local government launched a unique collection program: buying back plastic bags from residents. Loudspeakers announced that anyone with plastic bags could bring them to the commune headquarters to sell.

This encouraged both adults and children to enthusiastically collect plastic bags, cleaning up both garbage dumps and any remaining bags at home.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: 'Viên ngọc quý' nói không với rác thải nhựa - Ảnh 2. — Besides tourism , the lives of the local people also depend on the sea.

Following its initial success, Cham Island continues to "upgrade" its environmental protection activities, expanding the campaign to include "Say No to Plastic Straws" and "Say No to Single-Use Plastic Items".

This daring undertaking completely transformed the appearance of the island, which is only about 15 ^square kilometers in size.

Mr. Bui Lo (63 years old, residing in Bai Ong village, Tan Hiep commune), a resident who has been attached to Cu Lao Cham since 1968, said that before the year 2000, Cu Lao Cham island was a "storage" for waste from the mainland. But after the revolution against plastic waste, this frontier island is now famous for being one of the most beautiful and clean archipelagos in Vietnam.

In 1968, Mr. Lo traveled with his parents on a wooden boat from the mainland to Cu Lao Cham Island. After many years living on the island, he had built a magnificent accommodation facility. Every day, he and his wife welcomed Western guests who booked rooms and explored the island's pristine beauty, venturing into the forests and seas.

"Although I'm not a native of this island commune, I'm very proud to have chosen it as my next home. To me, Cu Lao Cham is a beautiful, poetic island unlike any other," Mr. Lo expressed.

Many rare and unique things about Cu Lao Cham Island.

Thanks to environmental conservation efforts, the lives of the people on Cham Island are also improving. Tourism is developing strongly, providing a stable income for the local people.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the average income of the people here was even the highest in Quang Nam province. With about 50 homestays and accommodations managed by the locals, Cu Lao Cham has become an ideal destination for those who want to experience local life and culture.

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: 'Viên ngọc quý' nói không với rác thải nhựa - Ảnh 3. — Cham Island boasts beautiful beaches that attract tourists.

There are many unique and rare things about Cu Lao Cham. Every occupation is registered and managed by the locals. Land, forest resources, and marine resources are divided equally among everyone. Those who work as motorbike taxi drivers are not allowed to harvest stone crabs. Those who harvest stone crabs are not allowed to gather forest leaves. Even without regulations, the people of Cu Lao Cham have traditionally established their own rules and shared benefits among themselves as a matter of course.

Many international tourists who visit this place express admiration for the way the people of Cu Lao Cham protect the environment.

Mr. Laurent (a French tourist) said that every time he and his wife visit Vietnam, they choose to stay on Cu Lao Cham Island for an extended period. "What my wife and I love most about this island is its 'no plastic waste' policy. Besides the beautiful, pristine scenery, fresh air, and peaceful atmosphere, the most important factor is that we want to directly experience the life and culture of the local people," Mr. Laurent said.

Speaking with a reporter from Thanh Nien newspaper, Ms. Pham Thi My Huong, Chairwoman of the Tan Hiep Commune People's Committee, said that in addition to the "say no to plastic waste" campaigns that the commune has implemented in recent years, the locality has coordinated with the Cu Lao Cham Marine Reserve Management Board to organize many practical activities such as raising awareness, sorting waste at source, processing organic waste at resource recovery facilities (MRF), mobilizing fishermen to collect waste at sea and bring it ashore, and the "Ocean House" model…

Những ngôi làng tuyệt đẹp ven biển: 'Viên ngọc quý' nói không với rác thải nhựa - Ảnh 4. — Cham Island is known as a plastic-free island.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Tan Hiep commune affirmed that the policy of saying no to plastic waste is an important factor in attracting tourists to Cu Lao Cham. It is the curiosity to "verify" that a small island can achieve great things that the whole world is striving for that has motivated tourists to visit.

"Despite many challenges, the 'plastic-free' story of Cu Lao Cham has been recognized by tourists and locals alike. This success not only helps preserve the natural beauty but also opens up a sustainable path for tourism, making Cu Lao Cham a symbol of community effort and awareness in environmental protection," Ms. Huong shared.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhung-ngoi-lang-tuyet-dep-ven-bien-vien-ngoc-quy-noi-khong-voi-rac-thai-nhua-185250828165029244.htm