Vietnam hotels unite against plastics

The hotel industry in Vietnam’s idyllic Cam Ranh region is tackling the scourge of plastic waste head on, working together with the aim of establishing a local plant that will upcycle all types of plastic waste.

The “End Plastic Soup in Cam Ranh” campaign, spearheaded by Alma Resort, The Anam Cam Ranh and Movenpick Cam Ranh and supported by 10 other resorts on the Cam Ranh peninsula, kicked off with an extensive two-day clean-up of Long Beach last month (above). 

The weekend beach clean attracted around 300 volunteers from participating hotels, Vietnam’s Rotary clubs and local schools, and roughly 1.5 tonnes of plastic were collected from the 15-kilometre-long Long Beach to be upcycled. 

A welcome dinner for volunteers and the community was held at Alma - which looks a lovely spot - to mark the start of the initiative. 

Alma managing director Herbert Laubichler-Pichler said Cam Ranh’s hospitality industry would work together with Rotary Club Saigon International to support the Rotary initiative End Plastic Soup to establish a recycling plant in Cam Ranh. 

“Alma and the local hospitality industry know it is crucial to do our bit to raise awareness about the damage plastic is doing to our stunning oceans, direct harmful plastics to upcycling efforts, and fundraise to help contribute to establish a plant here in Cam Ranh that will help the environment and the local community,” Laubichler-Pichler said.

Other hotels participating in the campaign include Aquamarine Resort, Cam Ranh Riviera Beach Resort & Spa, Selectum Noa Resort, Ana Mandara Resort Cam Ranh, Melia Vinpearl Cam Ranh Beach Resort, Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh, Swandor Cam Ranh, The Westin Resort & Spa Cam Ranh, Wyndham Garden Cam Ranh Resort and The Arena Cam Ranh Resort.

World Bank figures show Vietnam has become a major source of plastic waste in the world, with an estimated 3.1 million tonnes of plastic waste dumped on land and between 0.28 and 0.73 million tonnes dumped into the ocean each year. 

To support the “End Plastic Soup in Cam Ranh” campaign, contact Alma via email info@alma-resort.com or call +84 258 399 1666.