In the morning of June 4^th ,2016, the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), the province of Quang Ninh, and the Ha Long Association for Environmental Education and Protection have collaborated and organized a series of events in response to the Sea and Island week of Vietnam as well as the 2016 World Environment Day.

At the launching ceremony, there were Ms. Nguyễn Thu Huệ – Director of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and Mr. Christopher Wayne Adam – program director of environment and social development of USAID.  Also attending the launching ceremony was Mr. Đặng Huy Hậu – permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, director of the ceremony; Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà – member of the Executive Committee of Central Union, Provincial Member and Secretary; Mr. Trịnh Minh Thái, member of the Executive Committee of Central Union, Deputy Chief of Office of Central Union; Mr. Lê Hùng Sơn – Provincial Vice Secretary and members of other provincial departments, boards, and divisions.

Mr. Đặng Huy Hậu – Permanent Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Mr. Đặng Huy Hậu – permanent Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee acknowledged the participation of departments and local people, including the youth in protecting the environment of Quang Ninh province and monitoring the environmental issues in Ha Long Bay. He also thanked the Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD), the United State Agency for International Development (USAID), the non-government organizations (NGOs) that involved in the project “Ha Long – Cat Ba Alliance”, and other departments for their collaborations.

On behalf of the youth of Quang Ninh province, Ms. Nguyễn Thị Thu Hà – member of the Executive Committee of Central Union, Provincial Member and Secretary – showed determination and responsibility for organizing events in response to the Sea and Island week of Vietnam, the 2016 World Environment Day, and gave flags to the volunteering teams.

After the launching ceremony, nearly 1000 Union members, students, military force, Ha Long Bay management board, and interns from the Blue Lighthouse of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) have participated in cleaning the coastal areas, including the 30/10 stadium, the 5^th coastal road, and the area behind Ha Long market.

Director of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) and Mr. Christopher Wayne Adam cleaned the coastal area.

The coastal cleaning event was not merely a normal environmental cleaning one because it conveyed a strong message from the people of Quang Ninh province, especially the youth. Data regarding litter collected from Ha Long would play an important role in cleaning the environment on an international level, creating a concreted scientific foundation for initiating the next steps.

In the afternoon of the same day (June 4^th ,2016), the Classifying litter from travel boats workshop was held with the participations of Ms. Nguyễn Thu Huệ – Director of Centre for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD); Assoc. Prof., Dr. Nguyễn Thị Hà – Dean of Environmental Science – University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Mr. Lê Hùng Sơn – Provincial Vice Secretary of Quang Ninh province, Chairman of the Association for Environmental Education and Protection; Mr. Phạm Quang Vinh – Deputy Manager of Environment Protection, Environment and Resource Department, Quang Ninh.

Representatives solved the boat owners’ struggles regarding litter processing on the bay.

At the workshop, officials analyzed the impacts of litter on the environment, especially the ocean environment; provided information on how to classify litter on the sea as well as ways to process litter effectively from developed countries on the world. This information was conveyed to nearly 100 boat owners and sailors who had boats available on Ha Long Bay.

Figure 4: Overview of the workshop

The workshop helped enhance the awareness of the boat owners of the litter processing procedure, participating in protecting the environment as well as the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay. At the same time, it detected the difficulties regarding litter processing on the bay that the boat owners were struggle with. These difficulties would then be sent to the provincial board member and departments for further solutions.