“Sustainable Growth Hand-in-Hand with Con Dao Island.”

Joining Hands for a Green and Sustainable Con Dao

With its unique natural environment and special historical relic system, Con Dao has been designated as a national tourism destination of regional and international stature, prioritizing the development of eco-tourism, premium resorts, and cultural-historical-spiritual tourism. Circular economy is the solution to leverage its strengths, harmonizing ecological environment and sustainable economic development, as well as addressing Con Dao’s challenges.

To implement this roadmap, in early November 2023, the People’s Committee of Con Dao proposed to airlines and high-speed boat companies to study, apply, and implement the “Circular Economy” project serving the sustainable socio-economic development of Con Dao district. The goal is to prevent the generation of plastic waste that pollutes the environment, gradually improve and ameliorate the environmental pollution situation in the district, enhance the quality of life of the people, and contribute to the sustainable socio-economic development of the district.

In November 2023, the People’s Committee of Con Dao deployed the “Circular Economy” project to serve the sustainable socio-economic development of the district, gradually improving and ameliorating the environmental pollution situation.

Con Dao district also calls on airlines and high-speed boat companies to replace bottled water served to passengers with environmentally friendly alternatives, reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles, and products packaged in nylon bags. They also suggest using paper cups, paper straws, bamboo trays, or other eco-friendly materials on flights or boat trips to Con Dao, or collect single-use plastic bottles for proper disposal back on the mainland, ensuring they are not thrown into the sea or at the port.

In the coming time, the island district proposes that the units continue to study the replacement of products made from biodegradable materials such as paper, non-woven fabric, and nylon made from wheat flour and corn starch. They also suggest a roadmap for new passenger transport vehicles to use electricity and green energy.

Pioneering a “Light and Sustainable” Flight Route

As the only airline currently operating to Con Dao with a dense daily schedule, transporting passengers to this sacred land and tourist paradise, Vietnam Airlines (VNA) has always targeted and implemented many programs related to sustainable development and immediately embarked on realizing Con Dao’s sustainable development.

Vietnam Airlines is the only airline currently operating to Con Dao and always targets and implements many programs related to sustainable development.

Specifically, from March 15, 2024, all plastic waste and nylon bags on VNA flights have been collected and brought back to the mainland for proper disposal. Flight attendants on these flights also convey a message calling on passengers to join hands with Con Dao in the environmental protection campaign, encouraging the reduction of single-use plastic products during their stay on the island.

Vietnam Airlines has implemented many activities to promote and reduce the use of single-use plastic products on flights to Con Dao.

In September, VNA has been working with the People’s Committee of Con Dao to organize the “Light Flight to Con Dao” campaign, aiming to encourage passengers to reduce luggage weight, helping to make the plane “lighter,” consume less fuel, and reduce carbon emissions. The campaign also aims to minimize the use of nylon and single-use plastic products to reduce plastic waste, protect the environment, and move towards sustainable development in Con Dao.

“VNA has chosen Con Dao as the first locality to implement the ‘Sustainable Flight Route’ project with environmental protection activities, contributing to the preservation of the landscape and living environment,” said the VNA leader. “Since its establishment, VNA has always given priority to promoting sustainable development, net emission reduction, and preventing climate change happening worldwide, including nature conservation, environmental protection, and carbon emission reduction.”

Vietnam Airlines has chosen Con Dao as the first locality to implement the “Sustainable Flight Route” project with practical activities to protect the environment, contribute to preserving the landscape and living environment.