Ninh Bình, February 6, 2026 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in coordination with the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), organized a consultative workshop titled “Baseline Assessment of Plastic Waste Pollution in Viet Nam’s Tourism Sector.”

The workshop aimed to share key findings from the baseline assessment report on the current status of plastic waste generation and management, and its impacts on the tourism sector, with a focus on two cities: Ninh Bình and Đà Nẵng. It also proposed solutions tailored to the national context and the specific conditions of selected cities, promoting green and circular tourism in conjunction with effective plastic waste management to advance sustainable development.

Challenges of Growth: The Burden of Plastic Waste
As Viet Nam enters an accelerated phase of socio-economic development for the 2026 - 2030 period, tourism has been identified as a key economic pillar. However, the rapid growth of the sector is also placing increasing pressure on the environment, particularly through plastic waste pollution.

According to research findings in coastal tourism cities such as Đà Nẵng, overnight visitors generate more than twice the amount of plastic waste as visitors to ecotourism destinations such as Ninh Bình (0.27 kg/day versus 0.12 kg/day). Tourists are the primary source of plastic waste, producing 1.7-3 times more plastic waste than residents.

Consumer behavior is also a major contributing factor. In Ninh Bình, 72% of tourists use more than three plastic bottles per day. Meanwhile, 95% of businesses in Ninh Bình and 81.6% in Đà Nẵng continue to provide single-use plastics to tourists, despite high awareness of the environmental impacts of plastic waste.

Waste audit results further indicate that every year, the most common plastic product categories, including PET plastic bottles, plastic bags, and foam containers, account for more than 90% of total plastic waste at tourist destinations and accommodation facilities. Specifically, in Đà Nẵng, plastic bags and single-use plastics (SUPs) make up the largest share (23.7%) of total plastic waste, exceeding that of PET bottles. In contrast, in Ninh Bình, PET plastic bottles account for the highest proportion (38%), reflecting tourists’ habit of using bottled water during travel and visits to heritage sites.

“The Cost of Inaction” - The Economic Consequences of Plastic Waste Pollution
A key highlight of the study is the quantification of the “Cost of Inaction” (COI), demonstrating that plastic waste pollution is not only an environmental issue but also results in significant economic losses.

In Đà Nẵng, total COI values are estimated at VND 1,743.7 billion per year, of which economic losses account for more than 44% (approximately VND 772 billion), including waste collection and treatment costs and infrastructure maintenance.

In Ninh Bình, the estimated total COI is VND 606.7 billion per year. Although direct economic losses are lower, the risk of plastic waste leakage in heritage sites and riverine areas is substantial, with more than 146 tonnes of plastic waste released into the environment annually. Notably, 93.8% of the province’s total COI is attributed to destination brand damage, reflecting the risk that tourists may choose not to return due to unfavorable environmental impressions.

Mr. Vũ Thái Trường, Head of the Climate Change, Energy and Environment Unit at UNDP Viet Nam, emphasized: “Through the analysis of the Cost of Inaction, the report highlights the need for a proactive and systemic transition in the tourism sector. Accordingly, investment in solutions to reduce plastic waste pollution should not be viewed as an added cost, but as a strategic investment that helps safeguard the competitiveness, image, and long-term economic benefits of destinations and tourism businesses. Based on empirical evidence, the approach must shift from a passive, end-of-pipe response to prevention at source and the active engagement of the private sector through appropriate investment and financing mechanisms to support innovative tourism business models that gradually replace single-use plastic products and move toward sustainable development.”

Toward Green and Sustainable Tourism
The workshop brought together representatives from the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism); the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance; the Department of Environment (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment); the Departments of Tourism of Ninh Bình Province and Đà Nẵng City, along with other relevant agencies; international organizations; research institutes; destination management boards; tourism associations; experts; and tourism businesses. Participants discussed practical solutions across three main areas.

Regarding policy, it is necessary to integrate plastic waste reduction objectives into tourism quality assessment criteria and accommodation rating systems, in alignment with the criteria of the “Tourism Green Label.”

Regarding infrastructure, it is necessary to implement waste segregation at source in a coordinated manner, invest in dedicated collection infrastructure for plastic waste at tourism destinations, and strengthen collection efforts at plastic leakage “hotspots,” such as riverbanks and coastal areas.

For businesses, there is a need to promote a phased transition toward alternatives to single-use plastics at accommodation facilities and destinations that generate large volumes of plastic waste.

Mr. Hà Văn Siêu, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, emphasized: “Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, emphasized that “reducing plastic waste is no longer an option, but an essential requirement in the process of developing sustainable, green, and responsible tourism. The Vietnam National Tourism Administration is committed to listening to and incorporating the research results, consultations, and recommendations presented at the workshop as a basis for refining policies, product development orientations, and strengthening inter-sectoral coordination to promote green transformation in the tourism industry. This is a strategy that brings dual benefits: protecting the community, improving the quality of national tourism services, and maintaining the value of the Vietnamese tourism brand.”

This study is part of the regional Plastics Innovation Programme (GPIP) – Phase II, implemented by UNDP and funded by the Government of Japan (JSB). It provides an important scientific basis for policy formulation and for promoting plastic waste management solutions in the tourism sector in the coming period.

About the Report: The study applies the DPSIR analytical framework and Material Flow Analysis (MFA), combining quantitative surveys of 258 businesses and 216 tourists with detailed plastic waste audits conducted in Ninh Bình and Đà Nẵng.

For more media information, please contact:
UNDP Viet Nam
Phan Huong Giang   
UNDP Media and Communications Analyst, Climate Change, Energy, and Environment 
Email: phan.huong.giang@undp.org 
Mobile: 0948466688