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Vietnam: Exploring the Ecosystem of Recycling and Plastic Waste Reduction
A Land-Based Stopover with a Smaller Team
After three weeks of docking in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the Plastic Odyssey team continues its world expedition to combat plastic pollution. Due to restrictions on access to Vietnamese ports, the ship and part of the crew sailed directly to Hong Kong, while a land team consisting of Paul, an onboard Low-Tech engineer, Thibault, head of entrepreneurship and field documentation, and Marine, an onboard reporter, crossed the Cambodian border to reach Vietnam by land. They were joined by Alaric, Plastic Odyssey’s scout, and Quyen, a local ambassador, to explore the country’s recycling initiatives.
Exploring Local Recycling Initiatives in Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh City
The first stop in Ho Chi Minh City was rich in discoveries. The team met numerous small-scale manufacturers specializing in the production of recycling machines, including extrusion screws, as well as larger companies focused on recycling plastic into pellets. A screening of Plastic Odyssey’s documentary film gathered more than 150 people, including representatives from the French consulate and Miss Vietnam, highlighting the growing interest in plastic waste reduction initiatives.
Nha Trang
In Nha Trang, the team met Mr. Swan, a retired engineer with innovative ideas. Rather than conventionally recycling plastics, Swan developed a method to store and sequester plastics in blocks made of cement or polyurethane polyester. These blocks are then used to create submerged reefs, providing new habitats for fish and corals— a solution that combines waste management with marine ecosystem restoration.
Hoi An
The next stop in Hoi An allowed the team to meet Franz, a Danish entrepreneur who has lived in Asia for over 20 years. Since early 2024, Franz has been collecting waste from hotels, businesses, and schools using his scooter and trailer. He aims to maximize local outlets for these materials. He is currently working with Vietnamese factories that transform PET and PP bottles into eyeglasses, while other plastics, like PE and PP, are recycled into pallets or boards. Curious about Plastic Odyssey’s approach, Franz hopes to enrich his model with waste transformation solutions locally in Hoi An.
Hanoi and Hai Phong
After visiting Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam, the team headed to Hai Phong, where they met Nam, a Vietnamese YouTuber passionate about recycling. Nam documents local initiatives, providing valuable visibility for these projects and feedback on the best current practices. He also introduced the team to another major player in recycling, specialized in the recovery of polystyrene, a material that is rarely recycled. The polystyrene is transformed into frames and other finished products. The innovation and quality of the products from this process particularly impressed the team.
Quyen, Local Ambassador for Plastic Odyssey
Throughout this expedition, Quyen, Plastic Odyssey’s local ambassador, played a key role in facilitating meetings. She has initiated several “zero waste” stores and plastic alternatives called Laiday Refill Station. Committed to understanding the waste sector, Quyen has made it her mission to map and document recycling initiatives across Vietnam. This country, rich in waste management solutions, boasts both informal networks of street collectors and companies that transform waste, sometimes imported from abroad, into plastic pellets.
During their final leg toward Hanoi, the team also visited a village specializing in recycling known as LĂ ng Khoai (“Potatoes Village”), where local practices provide a fascinating insight into the central role of recycling in the local economy.
Heading to Hong Kong, the Next Expedition Stop
After traveling through Vietnam from south to north, the Plastic Odyssey land team is preparing to reunite with the ship in Hong Kong, armed with new discoveries and potential collaborations to accelerate the transition to a world less polluted by plastic.