Greening Vietnamese Hotels: Using Glass Bottles, Wooden Keys, Encouraging Water Saving

Namia River Retreat Hoi An Resort

More and more hotels and resorts in Vietnam are proactively implementing eco-friendly initiatives, from reducing plastic waste to saving energy and using recycled materials.

However, most of the "green hotel" activities are still only at the level of encouragement and calling for awareness from guests, without a specific incentive mechanism.

Ms. Vu Thi Thanh Hien, director of Kim Do - Royal Hotel Saigon, said that for many years the hotel has placed notices in guest rooms to call for saving electricity and water and to limit changing towels and pillowcases if not really necessary.

"At that time, if guests want to change the bed sheets, they can put this notice up. During their experience with the hotel's services, most tourists, especially international guests, are very supportive. For domestic guests, this rate is lower," said Ms. Hien.

Aiming for sustainable development, the hotel also prioritizes the use of natural, recyclable products and creates more green spaces in the areas.

Welcoming nearly 90% of international guests, mainly from Japan and South Korea, a representative of the Majestic Saigon Hotel said that to save electricity, they have replaced all regular light bulbs with high-efficiency bulbs, and encouraged guests to adjust the room temperature to 24-25°C.

"We use a solar hot water system for the living room, kitchen, and laundry. Guests leave their towels on the floor or in the bathtub if they need to be replaced. All shower gel containers are eco-friendly."

Namia Retreat (Hoi An) representative said that they have replaced traditional plastic keys with wooden keys, eliminated 100% of disposable plastic, and used glass bottled water instead of plastic bottles.

Water fountains are placed in visible areas for guests to refill their water bottles, creating awareness of environmental protection. Food waste is also used as compost for the garden.

"We are redefining sustainability from the backstage of operations, with our commitment extending beyond our guest spaces to our office spaces. From our desks to our operational furniture, we are crafting recycled plastics from ReForm Plastic, a social enterprise that pioneers the transformation of waste into resources," he added.

At Grand Saigon, one of the hotels awarded the title of "Green Enterprise" in Ho Chi Minh City, messages encouraging customers to save water and limit changing clothes to reduce chemical use are cleverly integrated in the rooms. Information to guests is also replaced with printed paper on IPTV screens.

According to hotels, the trend of "green practices" is becoming a common trend in the industry. Not only tourism businesses but also tourists are very interested in protecting the environment.

The increasingly clear change in tourists' awareness, behavior and preferences towards sustainable development has become an important criterion in the construction and operation of these units.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/xanh-hoa-khach-san-viet-dung-chai-thuy-tinh-chia-khoa-go-khuyen-khich-tiet-kiem-nuoc-20250503085839094.htm