The event, which attracted thousands of volunteers, students and local residents, was organised by the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) in collaboration with the Unites States embassy in Vietnam and the Ngoc Khanh ward Women’s Union.
Addressing the event, US Ambassador to Vietnam, David Shear, said this is a good opportunity for communities to become environmental campaigners and activists.
‘Co-operation with Vietnam in environmental issues is one of the US’s top priorities’, he added.
After the ceremony, participants cleaned up the area and planted trees around Ngoc Khanh Lake in Ba Dinh district.
According to the Centre for Envroment and Community Research, there are 120 lakes in Hoan Kiem, Dong Da, Ba Dinh, Hai Ba Trung, Tay Ho and Cau Giay districts in Hanoi but most are seriously polluted due to the lack of community awareness about environmental protection.
