Vietnam responds to Earth Hour 2013

Published: 01:09 Wednesday - March 27, 2013

Many localities across the country turned off their lights on the evening of March 23 to celebrate Earth Hour 2013 and join efforts to combat climate change.

At 20.30pm the climate change awareness campaign saw major tourist destinations in downtown Hanoi such as August Revolution Square, Trang Tien Plaza, and Ngoc Son Temple black out for an hour.

Thousands of local residents and students gathered around Hoan Kiem (Restored Sword) lake and in front of the Hanoi Opera House, holding self-luminous (OLED) lamps in response to the campaign.

Nguyen Thi Thuy, an Electricity University student, said she has supported the campaign to make the plant greener and more beautiful.

“This is the second time I have taken part in the event,” said Thuy. “I hope more similar activities will be held all the year round to save more energy.”

Nguyen Quang Tu, a student from Commerce University, said, “Our students can respond to the campaign by turning off our motorbikes when the red light is on to save petrol and protect the environment.”

At the same time, major public places and iconic buildings in HCM City switched off their lights for an hour.

Hundreds of volunteers converged on the Municipal Youth Cultural House to take part in Earth Hour campaign activities, including flashmob dancing and finger printing, showing their commitment to environmental protection.

Earth Hour, launched by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in 2007, is observed on the third Saturday of March every year from 20.30 to 21.30pm. It has been responded by 150 countries and territories worldwide.

This year Vietnam hopes to save 700,000 kWhs (equivalent to around VND1 billion) from this campaign.

The Hanoi Earth Hour 2013 campaign in pictures