Women of Hoa Lac:

Amidst rapid urbanization, the Women's Union of Hoa Lac commune has become a shining example in the environmental protection movement. Beyond simply organizing clean-up campaigns during holidays and festivals, the women's union members in Hoa Lac have gradually instilled the "green living" movement as a habit in every household.

The effectiveness of "green" models

Since the "green house" model for collecting recyclable waste and raising funds for charity was piloted (March 2024) and then implemented synchronously in all 9/9 women's associations, the cans, plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, etc., which were previously often thrown together with household waste, are now collected and sorted at the source by members and brought to the "green house". Besides protecting the environment, reducing the amount of waste sent for processing, and raising awareness among women members about voluntarily sorting waste at the source, the "green house" model also has a strong humanitarian aspect, serving as a mobile "charity fund" to help disadvantaged women members improve their lives.

The Women's Association of Village 1 sorts recyclable waste from their "green house" model to sell and raise funds for charity. Photo: TH

Speaking with a reporter from the Hanoi Press and Broadcasting Agency, the Chairwoman of the Hoa Lac Commune Women's Union, Nguyen Thi Hue, said: Every 1-2 months, every quarter, or when the "green houses" are full of recyclable waste, the branches sell the waste to raise funds. As a result, after more than two years of implementation, and especially during the peak period from the beginning of 2026 to the present, the branches have collected over 12 million VND. The entire amount from selling the waste was used to purchase 20 meaningful gifts for members in difficult circumstances and underprivileged students in the area.

Besides the "green house" model, aimed at reducing the use of plastic bags – considered an enemy of the environment – ​​in 2026, the Hoa Lac Commune Women's Union launched the "cloth shopping bag" model. At the "zero-cost market" held during the recent Lunar New Year, the Union directly distributed 50 durable and beautiful cloth bags to people for daily shopping. Through this model, the Hoa Lac Commune Women's Union hopes that its officials and members will gradually change their consumption behavior, not using plastic bags when buying food and consumer goods, but using cloth bags to move towards a sustainable green lifestyle.

Women in Hoa Lac maintain an environmental sanitation movement every Saturday and Sunday to build a greener, cleaner, and more beautiful Hoa Lac. Photo: TH

To maintain and further spread a green lifestyle, the Women's Union of Hoa Lac commune does not work alone, but regularly collaborates with the military and civilians in implementing environmental sanitation movements. The image of officers and soldiers from military units stationed in the area coordinating with women's union members to regularly conduct general clean-up campaigns in villages, alleys, and public facilities has become familiar. In just the first three months of 2026, the Union coordinated with military units to carry out 11 general environmental sanitation campaigns. This collaboration cleaned dozens of kilometers of roads, cleared drainage ditches, and maintained self-managed road sections in villages and hamlets, contributing to building a brighter, greener, cleaner, and more beautiful Hoa Lac.

The Women's Union of Hoa Lac commune regularly cooperates with military units stationed in the area to conduct general sanitation and environmental cleanup. Photo: TH

In particular, to celebrate major political events such as the 14th National Party Congress and the elections for the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels, the Hoa Lac Commune Women's Union implemented a "tree and flower road" project in Hamlet 1 and Hamlet 2. With a total budget of 45 million VND, of which 30 million VND came from social contributions, the project has contributed to beautifying the landscape of residential areas in the commune.

Green transformation from mindset to action.

While initiatives like "green houses," "flower-lined streets," and "cloth shopping bags" address external landscape issues, the stories of members like Ms. Kieu Thi Ha, Deputy Head of the Women's Association in Hamlet 1, Hoa Lac Commune, demonstrate a profound shift in mindset from within.

Specifically, in response to the call for a green lifestyle and to cope with the rising cost of fuel, in April, Ms. Kieu Thi Ha made a bold decision to sell her gasoline-powered motorbike and switch to an electric one. “The biggest motivation for me to sell my gasoline motorbike and buy an electric one stemmed from the air pollution in the capital and the increasingly expensive fuel costs. Since using an electric motorbike, I no longer have to worry when fuel prices rise. I plan to replace my gasoline-powered car with an electric car by the end of this year,” Ms. Ha said.

Ms. Ha's story is not unique. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Huyen, Head of the Women's Association in Hamlet 1, the movement to switch to green transportation is spreading strongly in the hamlet. Since the beginning of 2026 alone, the association has had three more members switch completely from gasoline-powered motorbikes to electric motorbikes. Currently, the percentage of members using electric motorbikes and electric bicycles in the association has reached approximately 35% of the total membership. This is an impressive figure, confirming that women in Hoa Lac are not only capable in household chores but also very responsive to the green living trend.

A notable new aspect of the movement's implementation in Hoa Lac is the application of digital technology in carrying out emulation movements, especially the environmental sanitation movement. All activities, from assigning daily chores and reminding people about environmental cleaning schedules on Saturday and Sunday mornings, to sharing tips on waste sorting, are managed by the Women's Union of the commune and its branches through Zalo and Facebook groups. Thanks to this connection and timely guidance, the self-awareness and compliance of the members have significantly improved. In some families, if the wife is busy, the husband or children will proactively take brooms and cleaning tools to clean the streets instead, creating a cohesive and responsible community atmosphere.

Continuing to maintain and develop the "green house" model, vibrant flower-lined roads, and simple cloth bags; and especially encouraging female members to respond to the call for a green lifestyle..., the women of Hoa Lac commune are writing the next chapter of a civilized and modern rural area that still retains its freshness and greenery.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/phu-nu-hoa-lac-lan-toa-phong-trao-song-xanh-tu-co-so-744871.html