5-6 December 2025, Bui Thi Xuan – Mui Ne Highschool, 210 Participants
Reported by Lê Đoàn Ngọc Hân, Lê Đỗ Thanh Tú
Main image: Participants exchanging “Trash for Treats”
The No Plastic Mũi Né Project recently organized a meaningful two-day “Boothday – Trash for Treats” activity at Bùi Thị Xuân – Mũi Né High School, inviting students to take simple, practical steps toward sustainable living, bring clean, sorted plastic and receive eco-friendly gifts in return. This initiative formed part of a collaborative effort to engage youth, schools, community groups, and environmental partners in promoting coastal stewardship and responsible waste management. Supported by GRAC Technology, Pedaco, Bùi Thị Xuân – Mũi Né High School, and Đồng Phục Á Châu, the program provided students with hands-on environmental experience while strengthening coordination between local and Saigon-based teams. Through youth leadership, logistics planning, and communication tasks, the activity aimed to raise environmental awareness, empower young people, and build a foundation for long-term community engagement in plastic recycling.
Key takeaways
- Strengthened Community-Wide Environmental Engagement: The activity engaged 210 participants, including students, teachers, school leaders, and the school canteen vendor. Contributions ranged from 160 plastic bottles from the vendor to over 100 kg of plastic waste and 6.5 kg of used batteries from students. All collected materials were transported to PEDACO for proper recycling, ensuring a fully closed-loop process and demonstrating strong community commitment to environmental action.
- Effective Waste Collection with a Transparent Closed-Loop Process: Nearly 100 kg of clean plastic and 6.5 kg of used batteries were collected over two days, and 100% of the materials were sorted and transferred directly to PEDACO for recycling. This ensured a fully transparent closed-loop waste management process, reinforcing the educational value of responsible disposal and recycling practices.
- Capacity Building and Team Development for the Local Organizing Team: As the first large-scale student-led environmental event at the school, the activity provided meaningful hands-on experience in event operations, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. Mentorship from the Saigon team enhanced the Mũi Né organizing team’s confidence and leadership capacity, while post-event reflection sessions further strengthened team bonding and continuous improvement.
Main highlights
Date: 5-6 December 2025
Venue or location: Bui Thi Xuan – Mui Ne Highschool
Organizer and co-organizers: Xanh Việt Nam Community (Xanh Việt Nam), GRAC Technology (Grac Tech), Bùi Thị Xuân – Mũi Né High School, and Dong Phuc Á Châu (Asia Uniform)
Participants: Students and Teachers from Bùi Thị Xuân – Mũi Né Highschool
No. of participants: 210 participants
Activities implemented
Training the Local Organizing Team
The Saigon organizing committee served as the lead team, acting as mentors and guides for the Mũi Né local organizing team (composed of high school students) prior to the event. Through this training process, the Saigon team strengthened its capabilities in leadership, personnel management, and risk coordination, while simultaneously empowering the local team to execute the activity effectively and confidently.
We always provide department-head mentoring for the local organizing team before each event, ensuring they clearly understand their roles, stay flexible in unexpected situations, and are fully prepared for the upcoming program. Through this process, the Mũi Né organizing team gained valuable hands-on experience in teamwork, event operations, and problem-solving.
To enhance the soft‐skill development of the local organizing team, comprehensive training sessions were conducted on event photography techniques, including camera framing, angle selection, and basic interview videography. This capacity-building effort ensured that students were adequately prepared to contribute to the communication component of the event. Moreover, the training enabled all sub-teams to cultivate essential competencies, such as technical communication skills, attention to detail, and collaborative problem-solving, thereby fostering both individual growth and overall team professionalism.
Collaboration & Partnership
The event was made possible through the support of several key partners. Xanh Việt Nam Community served as the communication partner, amplifying outreach and ensuring consistent public visibility. GRAC Technology, as the accompanying sponsor, provided eco-friendly gifts for the Boothday exchange activity, including recycled-material pens, seed packets, and canvas bags. PEDACO, a professional waste collection and transport provider, supported the project by ensuring all collected plastics were safely transferred to the recycling facility. Meanwhile, Bùi Thị Xuân – Mũi Né High School facilitated strong student engagement, and uniform sponsorship from Dong Phuc Á Châu helped create a cohesive identity for both organizing teams.
- Xanh Việt Nam Community (Xanh Việt Nam) is a non-profit organization founded on August 25, 2019, by Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Anh. It operates on a national and international scale, with a permanent team in all 63 provinces and cities and a volunteer base of over 50,000 members. On April 14, 2021, Xanh Việt Nam Community officially became a member of the National Volunteer Networks, directly affiliated with the National Volunteer Center (under the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee).
- Collaborative Media Partner: Xanh Việt Nam actively supported the project’s communication efforts, helping expand its reach and visibility.
- GRAC Technology (Grac Tech) is a pioneering Vietnamese company applying smart technologies (Big Data, AI) to build zero-waste cities and promote the circular economy. The company focuses on digitalizing waste management, running community programs like Green Point, and developing SaaS solutions for governments and businesses. For Boothday, Grac Tech served as a key strategic partner in three roles:
- Media Partner, helping expand the event’s visibility through their communication network.
- Technical Advisor, supporting Boothday operations such as participant check-in, reward-exchange design, and overall booth workflow.
- In-kind Sponsor, providing eco-friendly gifts: recycled-material pens, seed packets, and canvas bags for the Boothday exchange activity.
- Pedaco is a Vietnamese environmental company specializing in comprehensive waste management services. Their operations include collection and transport of waste, treatment of hazardous waste, industrial waste, and household waste, recycling used motor oil, and processing general waste through their waste-treatment complex. Founded as the operator in Bình Thuận, PEDACO aims to provide safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible waste-handling solutions across Vietnam.
- Transferred all sorted plastics directly to the recycling plant, supporting the project’s closed-loop waste management approach.
- Bùi Thị Xuân – Mũi Né High School served as a key institutional partner throughout the project. Most activities were carried out directly at the school and engaged its high school students as the primary participants. The school’s support enabled smooth coordination, strong student involvement, and consistent implementation of educational and environmental activities across the entire campaign.
- Dong Phuc Á Châu (Asia Uniform) is a reputable uniform manufacturer and supplier in Vietnam, with over 25 years of experience collaborating with domestic and international brands. In this project, Dong Phuc Á Châu served as a sponsoring partner, providing 50 uniforms for the organizing team in Saigon and the local organizing team in Mũi Né. This support not only ensured a consistent and professional appearance for all team members but also fostered a sense of unity and teamwork throughout the event.
Booth Day “Trash for Treats”
The two-day Boothday event engaged a total of 210 participants, attracting a diverse group that included high school students, teachers, school management board members, and even the school canteen vendor. The canteen vendor alone contributed 160 plastic bottles, while students collectively exchanged over 100 kilograms of plastic waste, including 6.5 kilograms of used batteries. After the event concluded, all collected plastics were transported to PEDACO for proper recycling, ensuring closed-loop waste handling throughout the activity.
To make participation simple and motivating, the booth offered three reward tiers based on the amount and type of clean, recyclable materials contributed:
| Level | Contribution Requirement | Accepted Materials | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 – Green Citizen | Minimum 1 material group | • 7 plastic items • 0.5 kg carton/paper • 5 aluminum cans • 5 snack/milk/candy packages | Training point + Recycled pen |
| Level 2 – Green Companion | Minimum 2 material groups | • 15 plastic items • 15 plastic bags • 2+ used batteries | Training point + Keychain with our mascot |
| Level 3 – Green Hero | Minimum 2 material groups | • 25 plastic items • 20 snack/milk packages | Training point + Tote bag + Seed pack |
Figure 3 Group photo with participants
Team Meeting, Improvement Feedback, and Bonding
After the activity, the Saigon organizing team, including the mentors and founders, held a structured debriefing session with all sub-teams. The meeting focused on identifying operational gaps, providing constructive feedback, and outlining clear areas for improvement to strengthen the team’s capacity for future events. Beyond performance review, the session also served as an opportunity to inspire the Mũi Né organizing team, reinforce their confidence, and acknowledge their efforts. The gathering concluded with profile photos of the organizing committee, fostering a sense of unity, recognition, and team identity. The afternoon activities also strengthened interpersonal connections among the organizing members, fostering a more cohesive and supportive team dynamic.
Outcome
Our Achievement
The two-day Boothday event engaged a total of 210 participants. The activity successfully engaged students across all three grade levels, with Grade 10 showing the highest participation at 103 students. Notably, the entire class of 10A2 took part, demonstrating strong enthusiasm and growing environmental awareness among the student body. The involvement of students, teachers, and school staff reflects a broad community commitment to sustainable practices.
Nearly 100 kg of clean plastic were collected over the two-day event, contributing to reduced waste leakage into the environment. All collected materials were fully sorted and transported directly to Pedaco’s recycling facility, ensuring a transparent and strictly closed-loop waste management process.
The initiative enhanced understanding among students and teachers regarding waste segregation, recycling, and the lifecycle of materials. It fostered pro-environmental habits and encouraged students to take an active role in sustainability-oriented behavior.
As the first large-scale environmental initiative organized by the Mũi Né team, the event provided practical experience in event management, logistics, and sustainability education. It demonstrated the ability of youth-led teams to implement impactful, real-world environmental activities.
The project generated quantitative results and baseline data that will inform future sustainability efforts, including continued Booth Day activities and the potential establishment of an Environmental Club.
