Black canals turn green
The crisscrossing canals of Ho Chi Minh City used to be an indispensable part of urban life, a place that marked beautiful memories of the people. However, along with the speed of economic development, the once-clear canals have now become "dead rivers." Improperly treated waste, industrial wastewater discharged directly into the environment, and limited environmental protection awareness of a segment of the population have turned the canals into pollution hotspots.
Born and raised in the heart of the city, Nguyen Luong Ngoc could not help but worry when witnessing these negative changes. As a young man of the 9X generation, Ngoc is well aware of the responsibility of the younger generation in building and protecting the future. From those concerns, the idea of Green Saigon — an environmental project with the goal of improving canals in Ho Chi Minh City — was born in 2018.
In the early days of its launch, Green Saigon was just a small group of a few dozen volunteers, operating completely spontaneously. They personally cleaned up trash in polluted canals, such as the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe, Te, and Doi canals.
The work requires not only physical strength but also perseverance and a deep love for the environment, because these canals are filled with household waste, plastic bottles, nylon bags, and even large household items such as sofas or washing machines.
Ngoc recalls: "At first, many people around did not understand what we were doing. Some people said: 'If we clean it up, the trash will just fill up again'. But I believe that, even with small actions, we can make a difference if we are persistent enough."
With enthusiasm and commitment, the volunteer group has grown stronger and stronger, attracting the participation of hundreds of young people. However, cleaning up trash is only a small part of Green Saigon's journey. Ngoc realised that to completely solve the pollution problem, there needs to be a creative and long-term solution.
One of the notable initiatives of the project is the installation of trash barriers and automatic trash collectors at pollution hotspots. These devices help prevent trash from flowing into the sea, while reducing the burden on volunteers. In addition, Green Saigon also coordinates with government agencies to organise propaganda campaigns to raise awareness about environmental protection.
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Green Saigon uses the trash barrier initiative. |
From local initiative to global recognition
After five years of operation, Green Saigon has achieved impressive achievements, not only domestically but also internationally. In Vietnam, the project has organised more than 300 trash cleaning campaigns, attracting the participation of more than 20,000 volunteers. With continuous efforts, Green Saigon has collected more than 3,000 tonnes of waste, significantly improving the environmental quality in many canals.
In 2023, Green Saigon became the representative of Vietnam to participate in World Trash Day — a global environmental event. The project made a strong impression when it rose to the second highest position globally, attracting more than 3 billion views on international media platforms. This achievement is not only a source of pride for Nguyen Luong Ngoc and his team, but also a testament to the strength of Vietnamese youth in addressing major environmental challenges.
Ngoc shared: "I never thought that a small project like Green Saigon could be recognised by the international community. This proves that, as long as we start, even with the smallest action, the change will spread."
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A canal cleaned by volunteers. |
The success of Green Saigon does not stop at numbers or awards. More importantly, the project has inspired many other organisations and individuals to take action for the environment.
Many communities in other provinces and cities such as Tien Giang, Vung Tau, and Binh Duong have learned from the model of Green Saigon to implement similar campaigns. Even some Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia have expressed their desire to cooperate and apply the project's solutions.
However, the journey of Green Saigon has not always been smooth. One of the biggest challenges the project has faced is the indifference of some people. Many times, members were rejected when they called on the community to participate in cleaning up trash.
In addition, working in a polluted environment also poses many health and safety risks for volunteers. To protect members, Green Saigon has established many safety measures, such as providing protective gear, organising skills training sessions, and working closely with local rescue forces.
Green future: The journey with no end
Looking to the future, Nguyen Luong Ngoc and Green Saigon are building long-term plans to expand the scale of operations. One of the major goals of the project is to deploy new technologies, not just stopping at trash barriers and automatic trash collectors, but also developing solutions to recycle waste right at the source.
The project also has the ambition to build a sustainable network of volunteers across the country. Ngoc believes that when environmental protection becomes a habit and awareness of each person, we will have long-term positive changes. "We want to build a young generation that not only loves nature but also commits to taking action for the environment," he affirmed.
In addition, the Green Saigon is cooperating with many international organisations to spread the message and expand the model to other countries. With support from government agencies and the international community, Ngoc believes that the project will continue to contribute positively to the fight against environmental pollution and global climate change.
Looking back on the journey from a small thought, Saigon Xanh has proven that the power of the community can create miraculous changes.
From polluted canals, a green living movement has been ignited, bringing hope not only to Ho Chi Minh City but also to the world. The story of Nguyen Luong Ngoc and the Green Saigon is a living testament to perseverance, the will to act, and a strong belief in a better future.
