Thanh Tu tells the story of green initiatives

Student Le Do Thanh Tu

Thanh Tu is currently an English language student at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City), and co-founder of the "No plastic Mui Ne" project.

A story about human connection

With a passion for languages, Thanh Tu’s diplomatic journey began with English speaking competitions. At first, she was quite curious but then she loved the feeling of sitting around the negotiating table to listen, debate and find common ground between seemingly irreconcilable positions. For Tu, the essence of diplomacy is not just strategy or negotiation but the process of building connections between people in thinking, feeling and action.

"The core of diplomacy is to put people at the center, connections that create positive change for the community, the region and the world . Diplomacy is not the distance between countries but a bridge connecting hearts with the same aspiration for a more understanding and harmoniously developed world," Tu said.

At the Ho Chi Minh Model ASEAN Meeting 2024, Thanh Tu was honored as the best "minister of foreign affairs, head of state" (simulated). She brings the spirit of young people who believe in the power of understanding and connection.

Stepping into the simulated negotiation table, Tu realized that diplomacy is not just about treaties or policies but about people, listening, sharing and finding common ground among differences.

What Tu conveyed throughout the journey was the spirit of "connecting for cooperation", even though he was a simulated head of state, not focusing on asserting his position but prioritizing creating a space for open dialogue, where all voices are heard.

Thanh Tu was a Vietnamese delegate participating in AJYELN 2025 (ASEAN - Japan Youth Environmental Leadership Network) to meet outstanding young people from ASEAN countries and Japan, listen to the application of satellite data to solve plastic waste of the Thai team; to the initiative of combining environmental protection with spiritual culture of the Lao team such as replacing plastic offerings in temples with environmentally friendly materials.

The spirit of young leadership today is to dare to act, dare to innovate and dare to take responsibility, together continuing the story of a united, greener and sustainable Southeast Asia.

From that experience, Tu concluded that youth leaders must be creators, connecting science with humanities, understanding multilateral cooperation, nurturing global thinking, local action and inspiring the next generation.

At the Model ASEAN Youth Leaders Conference, Tu had the opportunity to directly experience a simulated ASEAN conference and was impressed with the spirit of the young delegates. They were not only creative in their initiatives but also thoroughly researched policies and understood the regional context.

She realized that young leaders not only represent their countries but also serve as bridges to promote understanding and cooperation across the Southeast Asian region.

Thanh Tu at the ASEAN Secretariat, exchanging and interacting with youth representatives of member countries - Photo: NVCC

A young regional leader needs more than knowledge and capacity. More importantly, he needs a comprehensive vision, the courage to step out of the box, a vision that goes beyond national borders, creativity in approach, and the ability to harmoniously connect local resources with the power of international cooperation.

Le Do Thanh Tu

Concerns as homeland faces pollution

Participating in international exchanges, Thanh Tu was concerned about the environmental pollution in his hometown, but there was a lack of connection between policy, community and people's awareness. When sponsored by an international organization to initiate a local non-profit project, Tu and his colleagues targeted plastic waste.

"Vietnam is among the countries with the most plastic waste in the ocean. As young Vietnamese people with a passion for change, we witness plastic pollution destroying beaches, harming marine life and threatening the livelihoods of local people," Tu said.

The more Tu learned, the more he realized that people lacked environmental knowledge, and those who lived by tourism or fishing still used plastic without seeing its impact. Tu is turning awareness into action by raising awareness about plastic waste, accompanying the community in changing the habit of using disposable plastic.

The project organizes coastal clean-ups, supports businesses to "go green" and creates a playground for young people through workshops, "Exchange plastic for gifts" booths and recycled art displays.

"No Plastic Mui Ne" is considered a pilot model of "plastic-free beach tourism", which can be replicated in many localities. Each year, the project will be deployed for 3-5 months in a new sea area with the participation of students to empower environmental protection.

“A community-driven initiative that empowers students and local vendors to tackle the plastic pollution problem head-on,” Tu said.

When implementing "No Plastic Mui Ne", Tu's team realized that changing community habits was a challenge. The people were friendly but wary because they had experienced a lack of transparency in the project, so the team lived with them, surveyed the situation and listened to build trust.

Small businesses face cost constraints when going green, so the support group connects suppliers and communicates. Working with the government also requires patience and transparency to affirm the project for the community.

Currently, "No Plastic Mui Ne" is sponsored by the ASEAN - Japan Centre, within the framework of the AJYELN program, implemented in parallel with 10 environmental projects from ASEAN member countries and Japan.

Thanks to that, Tu's group became part of a regional young leadership network, receiving support, advice and policy exchanges with Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines... to learn about waste treatment models and environmental education.

Le Doan Ngoc Han (co-founder) commented that Thanh Tu is a leader who knows how to listen, is steadfast in his ideals, is perfectionist in his actions but still maintains gentleness and humanity. Working with Tu is working with a young, ambitious, multi-talented person who always carries within himself the spirit of progress and integration.

Don't forget your homeland roots

What makes Vietnamese youth unique in the international arena is the spirit of reaching out to the five continents without forgetting their homeland, the cultural and historical roots that have nurtured them. Vietnamese youth "dare to think, dare to do", are brave, dynamic, always ready for challenges and humble. Tu believes that Vietnamese youth are friendly, open and respect diversity. We step out into the world not only to learn but also to share Vietnamese stories and culture, adapting quickly to the times but still maintaining our identity.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thanh-tu-ke-chuyen-sang-kien-xanh-20251120092543732.htm