Ongoing challenges
During the recent public holiday, the family of Bui Duy Hai from Ha Noi chose Ha Long, Quang Ninh as the destination for a short trip. After exploring the bay and experiencing various services, the family stopped to rest at a pier area. There, he witnessed small, convenient plastic water bottles—easy to buy and carry—discarded along the walkway. From this, a significant volume of plastic bottles, cups, plastic bags, and single-use packaging is generated, posing a risk of environmental pollution. Proper collection, sorting, and treatment to reduce environmental pressure have become urgent requirements.
According to a study on plastic pollution in the tourism sector conducted by the United Nations Development Programme in Viet Nam, challenges in managing tourism-related plastic waste stem from policy implementation, infrastructure, data, and consumer behaviour. The programme’s baseline report shows that plastic waste accounts for approximately 12% of total municipal solid waste. Notably, plastic waste generated by tourists is projected to reach 349,400 tonnes by 2030.
Associate Professor, Dr Pham Trung Luong, a tourism consultant for UNDP Viet Nam, noted that a major limitation is that tourism is not yet managed as a distinct waste-generating sector. Existing legal documents do not impose mandatory regulations on plastic-free tourism, remaining largely at the level of commitments or encouragement. As a result, such requirements are not compulsory for accommodation facilities, restaurants, tourist attractions, or travel businesses. Moreover, many plastic reduction initiatives remain campaign-based, dependent on communication drives or short-term support projects, lacking long-term sustainability mechanisms.
Another issue lies in waste sorting at source and final treatment. Most plastic waste generated from tourism activities is still collected through existing systems and ultimately treated mainly by landfill or incineration. Although some destinations have implemented waste sorting, local collection systems often operate mixed collection methods, causing sorted waste to be recombined. In island destinations or isolated areas, waste transport costs are high, while appropriate support mechanisms are lacking, reducing the effectiveness of plastic reduction efforts at the source.
A recent UNDP survey in Ninh Binh Province found that 67% of respondents had seen litter scattered at tourist sites; 81% believed that plastic waste reduces the beauty and attractiveness of destinations; and 63% considered it detrimental to the destination’s reputation. These figures indicate that plastic pollution directly affects the tourism experience while also showing there is genuine social space for transformative solutions.
Beyond damaging destination image, plastic waste also entails significant economic costs. The report estimates that the cost of inaction on plastic waste pollution in Ninh Binh could exceed 600 billion VND (23.6 million USD) per year; the annual waste collection cost for each business alone is about 20 million VND (approximately 786 USD). Therefore, delays in addressing plastic waste not only increase environmental burdens but also raise operational costs for businesses and local authorities. The survey also shows that most businesses have not yet taken steps towards green transformation, as alternative products remain costly while profits for many accommodation providers, food establishments, and tourism households are modest.
Implementing comprehensive solutions
From these challenges, according to Vu Thai Truong, Head of Circular Economy and Climate Change at UNDP Viet Nam, the foremost solution is to improve enforcement tools. It is necessary to issue detailed guidelines on phasing out single-use plastics in tourism; develop green transition handbooks for businesses; strengthen inspections and penalties; and integrate plastic-free tourism criteria into hotel rating systems and licensing procedures. For core heritage zones, regulations to reduce single-use plastics should be introduced promptly to establish a clearer legal basis for management.
Authorities should adopt support policies focusing on accommodation establishments rated below three stars and homestays, as this group generates significant waste but has limited capacity for self-investment in transition. At tourist sites, more drinking water stations and refill points should be installed at piers and attractions; waste bin systems and sorting instructions should be standardised and expanded. Model plastic-reduction hotels and restaurants should be developed, and pilot waste management models in tourism activities should be implemented to shift behaviour away from single-use plastic consumption.
Additionally, more synchronised investment is needed for infrastructure related to sorting, collection, transfer, and recycling; waste bins should be standardised and colour-coded on a broad scale to avoid confusing visitors; and collection processes should be designed to suit local conditions. Connectivity between on-site waste sorting and collection and recycling networks should be strengthened. In coastal areas, particular attention should be paid to building waste storage infrastructure suited to conditions of wind, storms, and flooding to prevent lightweight waste from leaking into the marine environment.
Another key group of solutions is to create economic incentives for businesses, including piloting green finance mechanisms such as reductions or exemptions of environmental fees; prioritised loans for hotels and restaurants to replace single-use plastic materials; and technical support for data collection and waste management restructuring.
For tourists, convenient alternatives should be made available directly at destinations, such as reusable water bottles, substitutes for single-use plastic products, and clear instructional signage. Monitoring should also be enhanced through smart data applications, integration with smart city platforms, and the installation of cameras at beaches and key tourist sites to detect and prevent violations related to waste disposal.
