Every Sunday morning, the Hanoi Green Volunteer Group gathers to collect trash across the city. Today, the group is at the foot of the Mau Luong 1 Bridge, where the Nhue River flows. This area is highly polluted, with trash floating everywhere.

Seen from above, the river is a solid black. The Nhue River is a "dead river" flowing through Hanoi. After every rain, the water carries along countless pieces of trash thrown in by residents living along the riverbanks.

Dong Van Tuan, a 21-year-old volunteer, quickly uses a pole to gather a cluster of floating trash. Wearing protective gear, he wades to the river's edge to collect the waste.

Once the floating trash is pulled closer, the young men use baskets to scoop it up and put it into plastic bags.

The female volunteers stand above, ready to transport the large, heavy bags of trash.

Old mattresses that were thrown into the river and soaked with water over time make the transport work much more laborious.

Group leader Huy reminds everyone to wear gloves, boots, and full protective gear because there are many broken glass shards and rusty nails.

I recently joined the trash-collecting team and found this work extremely meaningful. Sometimes, while wading in the river to collect waste, passersby throw bags of trash directly into the water. It makes me very sad, but it also strengthens my resolve," Dong Van Tuan said.

Depending on the day's work or the specific area being cleaned, the group can have from 30 to 200 members working in shifts. They are also supported by local youth and officials.

Nguyen Dang Van, a volunteer, said many areas that were previously cleaned have become cluttered again because residents continue to throw trash into the river. "This work is physically demanding, but it makes the team feel proud because we are doing something useful. We just hope that environmental protection awareness will spread widely so that everyone becomes more conscious," he shared.

Sections of the Nhue River's banks are filled with household waste. Although some people believe that this work is "like a drop in the ocean," the volunteers, who have been maintaining this effort for two years, believe it will gradually raise awareness among those around them, contributing to a cleaner and greener Hanoi.

Thach Thao