Starting 2026, Hanoi will phase out single-use plastics in hotels, shops, and daily activities to combat plastic waste.

Vietnam has taken various steps to manage marine plastic waste, including the National Action Plan to 2030. However, weak links between island and mainland development, along with increasing marine pollution, remain key challenges.

In Vietnam, single-use plastic products are commonly used because of their convenience and low cost.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, approximately 1.8 million tonnes of plastic waste are generated in Vietnam every year, with between 0.28 - 0.73 million tonnes of this waste ending up in the oceans.

The project aims to identify sources of plastic waste, assess its socioeconomic and environmental impacts, and propose policies to minimise its effects on coastal communities and key industries such as fisheries and tourism.

Tourists are prohibited from bringing single-use plastic products to five island communes in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh’s Van Don district starting April 27.