By 
25-02-2026, Miriam Schanz, Asia Team Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
Vietnam is addressing a surge in tourism-driven plastic waste by integrating community-led initiatives and national green growth strategies to protect its environmental and economic sustainability.
According to recent data from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Vietnam’s growing tourism industry is increasing single-use plastic waste, especially in coastal and historical areas. Vietnam produces approximately 70,000 tonnes of household waste daily, and each person uses an average of 81kg of plastic annually. Tourism significantly adds to these volumes, with visitors generating between 0.5kg of waste per day for day-trippers and 1.2kg for overnight guests, consisting largely of plastic bottles and packaging. Without rigorous environmental management, officials from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) caution that the very biodiversity and destination quality that support Vietnam’s competitive advantage in the global tourism market could be permanently eroded.
This data indicates that the industry’s continued use of plastic is primarily driven by logistical and economic considerations. As single-use plastics are more affordable and readily available than eco-friendly alternatives, many tourist hotspots, including Ninh Bình and Đà Nẵng, continue to supply them. Furthermore, consumer behaviour plays a large role, as many tourists are reluctant to pay substantial premiums for sustainable alternatives and continue to use multiple plastic bottles every day due to concerns about water safety. Additional challenges that small businesses frequently encounter include a shortage of specialised environmental personnel and insufficient funding for waste treatment infrastructure.
In response, Vietnam has incorporated plastic waste reduction into a number of national strategies, and several action plans, combining sustainable management, climate adaptation and coordinated policy support, have been implemented in recent years. Local organisations such as XomTour and the Hòa Bõc Ecological Agriculture Cooperative are testing models that combine community-based tourism with plastic-reduction measures. Moreover, to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the Vietnamese government has also adopted a National Green Growth Strategy, focusing on greening the economy, developing renewable energy, and applying circular economy principles. The strategy aims to mobilise green finance and ultimately integrate sustainability standards into tourism operations. These actions are part of an ongoing effort to incorporate environmental factors into the tourism industry’s regular business practices.
