These young people are removing tons of rubbish from the rivers and canals of Vietnam (thanks to “garbage bombs”)

In the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, a group of young volunteers decided to transform the city’s polluted canals into symbols of hope and environmental rebirth. They are called Sài Gòn Xanh – which translated means “Green Saigon” – and their mission is as simple as it is ambitious: to clean up the waterways and spread a new ecological culture among Vietnamese citizens.

The project was born from the idea that pollution cannot be fought only with technology, but also with community participation. For this reason, every week volunteers gather to collect the waste that suffocates the canals, giving the waters back the appearance they once had.

Anti-waste barriers

One of the most effective innovations introduced by Sài Gòn Xanh are the floating barriers, nicknamed “anti-garbage bombs”. These are lightweight structures made up of buoys and nets that intercept plastic and other debris before they reach major rivers or the sea. These physical barriers not only block waste, but also facilitate collection operations. They are a low-cost, high-impact solution, already considered a model that can be replicated in other cities in Vietnam.

From plastic to recycled boat

To demonstrate that waste can have a second life, Sài Gòn Xanh volunteers built a recycled boat made entirely from 1,200 plastic bottles. It took 60 hours of work and a good dose of ingenuity, but the result is a tangible symbol of sustainable creativity. The objective of the project is to raise awareness among citizens by showing that even discarded materials can become useful tools for the community.

Educate to change

In addition to cleaning and recycling activities, Sài Gòn Xanh participates in workshops and public meetings to spread knowledge about environmental protection and the importance of separate waste collection. Thanks to their commitment, these young activists are transforming “black canals” into regenerated waterways, demonstrating that a cleaner Vietnam is possible when collective action meets innovation.

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