Ho Chi Minh City strives for 100% of supermarkets to use environmentally friendly plastic bags in 2021. Photo: CAO THANG Many consequences The project “Building a system to observe plastic waste in society and the environment” (COMPOSE) implemented by the French Embassy in Vietnam has shown that, out of 250,000 tons of plastic waste per year in Ho Chi Minh City, there are 48,000 tons. buried, more than 200,000 tons are recycled or discharged directly into the environment. Alarmingly, the Saigon River has the 5th largest amount of plastic waste in Vietnam and 45th in the world. The amount of plastic waste dumped into the Saigon River in March 2018 recorded 5.6 – 10.3 tons. Based on this figure, the amount of plastic waste is estimated at 7,500 – 13,000 tons/year. Every liter of water the Saigon River pours into the sea has 1,000 times more microplastics than the Seine in Paris. According to research by scientists, each broken microplastic will produce a lot of toxic substances harmful to health. At that time, people can suffer from hormone balance, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases… Microplastics less than 5mm long, when not properly collected and handled, will have a negative impact on the environment and the ocean. , underwater creatures. Microplastics are found in most of the products we use every day such as cleansers, shower gels, toothpastes and some cosmetics. Each time we wash 6kg of clothes, we also release 728,000 microplastic fibers into the environment. Researchers from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) also argue that plastic pollution is a transboundary problem, with global impacts. Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, is most vulnerable as the region bears most of the consequences of the overload and inefficiencies of the global recycling system. Plastic pollution causes negative economic impacts on the region’s industries, estimated at $1.3 billion per year. Although most national governments have announced or are in the process of establishing national regulatory measures, these measures are limited in their ability to address the broad cross-border challenge. borders of ocean plastic pollution due to lack of effective coordination among countries. The time has come for countries to consider establishing a legally binding international treaty to combat plastic pollution. The convenience and popularity of plastic products on the market, especially single-use plastic items, make consumers consume and use a large amount of plastic. Therefore, we need to come up with basic solutions to limit such as incentives for new innovative products, promotion of more sustainable or plastic-free alternatives. Create a labeling mechanism to promote better choices from consumers. It is necessary to encourage the participation of businesses in handling plastic packaging. Combine multiple solutions To join hands with the Government to realize the goal of reducing plastic waste, the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has issued a plan to strengthen the management, reuse, recycling, treatment and reduction of plastic waste. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City strives by the end of 2021, 100% of supermarkets and trade centers to use environmentally friendly packaging for living purposes to replace difficult-to-decompose plastic bags; Small traders at the people’s market reduce by 50% using non-biodegradable plastic packaging in product packaging. State management agencies and public non-business units must be exemplary, active, and take the lead in reducing and reusing plastic waste, not using non-degradable plastic packaging and single-use plastic products. times (bottles, jars, straws, foam boxes…) at offices, conferences, seminars. In particular, limit the use of single-use banners, slogans, etc., and switch to using electronic devices for propaganda purposes. To achieve these goals, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoa Binh directed relevant departments and units to jointly develop action plans for implementation. In particular, focus on waste control at source. Minimize and move towards not using non-biodegradable plastic packaging and single-use plastic products in all daily activities of state agencies, factories, schools and people’s daily activities. . Mobilize restaurants, hotels, tourist resorts, tourism and catering establishments, etc. to have plans to reduce plastic waste and gradually switch to using recycled and environmentally friendly products. Plastic waste generated from tourism, marine services, maritime economy, marine mineral resources, aquaculture and fishing must be collected, stored and transferred to functional units. handling. In parallel with the source control solution, HCMC also encourages the reuse and recycling of plastic waste through the development and deployment of the 3T model (Reduce – Reuse – Recycle). , encourage and create favorable conditions for organizations with functions and conditions to perform the service of collecting, reusing and recycling plastic loads in the city. Ho Chi Minh City will also strengthen the inspection of environmental violations such as indiscriminate dumping of waste and plastic waste in public places. Inspect and handle violations of environmental protection tax, value-added tax, corporate income tax, etc. in import, production and distribution activities, and trading in non-degradable plastic packaging and plastic products. disposable; encourage recycled products, environmentally friendly products.

Therefore, in order to control plastic waste, Ho Chi Minh City has launched a plan to strengthen the management, reuse, recycling, treatment and reduction of plastic waste in HCMC. Prioritize recycling of plastic waste One of the solutions to reduce plastic waste is to organize the classification, collection, reuse, recycling and treatment of plastic waste. Accordingly, Ho Chi Minh City will promote the classification of domestic solid waste at source in accordance with the direction and direction of the City People’s Committee. It also encourages the separation of waste at source for plastic waste separately from other types of waste. Thereby, helping to make reuse and recycling activities more profitable and economic. HCMC will promote the separation of domestic solid waste at source. Photo: CN In addition, Ho Chi Minh City encourages the classification of plastic waste mixed in domestic solid waste at transfer stations, or domestic solid waste treatment plants and prioritizes transferring plastic waste to recycling units. use, recycle function. In case plastic waste is no longer able to be reused or recycled, other appropriate and effective treatment solutions should be implemented. Ho Chi Minh City will also organize the implementation of technical solutions or movements and campaigns to collect solid waste, plastic waste in public places, vacant land, rivers, canals, canals… in the area. . In addition, mechanisms and policies will be developed to encourage, give incentives and support to organizations and individuals that collect, reuse and recycle plastic waste and for production facilities. recycled, environmentally friendly products to replace difficult-to-biodegrade plastic packaging and disposable plastic products, etc. Minimize the use of non-biodegradable packaging The habit of using single-use plastic and nylon bags may bring convenience to people, but it is a big polluter for the environment. Therefore, one of the plans of Ho Chi Minh City is to minimize and proceed to not use non-biodegradable plastic packaging, single-use plastic products in all daily activities of administrative agencies. the state, non-business units, unions, schools, medical facilities, people… in the city. In addition, the city will review and assess the current status of plastic waste generated in the area, thereby proposing appropriate and effective solutions in managing and minimizing plastic waste in the area. The city will also continue to mobilize and urge the system of supermarkets, trade centers, convenience stores, people’s markets … in the area to strive to fulfill the targets set by the city. Specifically, the system of supermarkets, commercial centers, markets, convenience stores, bookstores, etc. have forms of encouraging consumers to bring bags when shopping, limiting or not giving free plastic bags. for consumers. Towards charging for bags and packaging of goods for consumers who need to use them when they do not bring bags when shopping… Convenience stores, food stores… have a discount policy, accumulate points for customers who bring products to store, store goods, food, drinks… Strengthening handling of the act of dumping plastic waste in public places Ho Chi Minh City will inspect and handle violations of environmental hygiene, indiscriminately disposing of waste and plastic waste in public places in the area according to regulations. At the same time, inspect and handle violations of environmental protection lease, value-added tax, corporate income tax… in the activities of importing, manufacturing, distributing, and trading in packaging. non-biodegradable plastic and disposable plastic products, recycled products, environmentally friendly and activities to reuse and recycle plastic waste in the city.

Not delicious, sloppy eating but really, sometimes when I’m not around the office during lunch time, I still remember that industrial spring roll strangely. It’s not that eating a lot becomes a habit, but perhaps because of that spring rolls, it reminds a lot of memories. During the days in Hanoi, also without this snack, a delicious banh gio is really the “splendid paradise” of the stomach. Especially on winter afternoons, when it’s a bit drizzly, let a hot piece of spring roll melt in your mouth. Away from Hanoi for more than 20 years, I don’t know if the “guerrilla” banh mi shop at the corner of Tran Xuan Soan – Ngo Thi Nham intersection, near Hom market, is still for sale or not. Once upon a time, it was our snack mecca, literally. In the afternoon, despite the hustle and bustle of people, we young people stopped by, kicked the car against the car, “pleased her for a cake” and sat down on a small wooden chair and sipped. Hot, fragrant cake, add a little spicy chili sauce, enough to dispel the cold of the drizzle. If the day is “sizzling”, add a piece of cinnamon rolls, it’s really delicious, not only at the level of “warm hearts of soldiers” anymore. By the time he entered the south to set up a business, at first, many times when he wanted to eat spring rolls, he was exhausted. But it’s hard to find a banh gio in the right style of Hom market. Then also discovered that Minh Chau spring rolls house sells delicious spring rolls, North standard. But unfortunately, in Minh Chau, only a few minutes in the morning, the spring rolls are gone. Later in the afternoon, they also sell but they sell out soon. Buying spring rolls there often turns out to be a miracle. Eating a piece of fragrant, soft, greasy, rich spring rolls, I suddenly remembered my childhood. Opposite the house, there are Mr and Mrs. Chi who specialize in selling spring rolls. Their son was the same age as us, loved like a thin egg. We still tease him: “Everybody in your family is muscular when sitting. When you stand up, your thighs are like toothpicks”. The reason there is such a joke is also because of the sight of them sitting and pounding their legs with their hands all day. Two hands swinging the pestle continuously. Working like that, biceps are not billowing. But sitting in one place forever, hands are sometimes bigger than legs. Referring to the profession of spring rolls, when it comes to banh gio, we must admit that our ancestors calculated real talent. Their basis is enough to be the standard and most basic lesson of those who do business and production in any era, any business model. The tiny spring rolls, held in the palm of the other hand, turned out to have a great meaning. It is full use. It is a product that brings added value in the whole production cycle of the people who make spring rolls. Remember the story about a teacher who filled a glass jar with gravel and asked his students, “Is the jar full?”. When the student replied “It’s closed”, the teacher poured sand into the jar again. Continue, after the sand is water. That story we certainly heard boring ears. But in this “spring roll lesson”, it’s not boring at all. The house making spring rolls will definitely use the ingredients of meat and leaves to wrap the cake. A pound of pork has a fairly large volume, with its diameter also having to be about 10cm and the length of the cylinder also having to be 20 to 25cm. So many pounds of ham put into the cooking pot, is it like a big bunch of pebbles put into a glass jar? Then in the process of wrapping the sausage, there will certainly be leftover leaves, shredded leaves, and shredded meat. And so those leftovers are used to make small, pretty spring rolls, as if sand is added in a glass jar. Then, besides banh gio, there is also a bun. The cake is also small and pretty like that, also using leftovers and scraps like that. Those superfluous, petty things can actually be sold. But surely, it will only bring the cheap value of a mere waste product. However, when combined together in the shape of a spring roll, it is placed in a new position, as solemn as the hot, fragrant pork rolls. It is in place of another product line, sold at a very different price. His father is really talented. The ingenuity of starting from good eating is full, well shuffling is warm has become a basic and acumen custom of business people. And in fact, except for industrial spring rolls production facilities, there is no heirloom sausage house that does not sell additional by-products such as spring rolls, pancakes… at all. It can be said that if they are rich by doing that job, it is not the sausage that gives them that wealth, but rather the traditional tradition that has been brought back from generation to generation. How many people peeled away a plate of spring rolls for breakfast, lunch and thought about the way that cake came out of the oven to relate to the work they are doing? It’s like the story of a young tailor I know. She never throws away the rags. But she uses it to sew beautiful doll dresses, make small key chains and sell them online. And I myself was very surprised when I heard her say “That dress you sewed for that woman, the salary is four hundred thousand. But the rags of that dress were thrown away, I made 1 doll shirt and 2 keychain. In total, I sold millions of two.” One million two versus four hundred thousand. And most importantly, that million and two come from what is considered waste. But I always believe, that girl will succeed. Not because of sewing but because of the very scientific calculation that she has. Doing business requires studying and the learning pool is huge. We will easily be eager for the new, with the modernity of the world out there, but let’s not ignore the old lessons that our forefathers have learned. Just like that spring rolls, it has opened up an extremely interesting process. It is a process of experience and not only the experience of a particular person but of many lives. That experience is as precious as any other knowledge out there, and most importantly, it’s not written into a textbook or textbook. It only opens to those who are contemplative, like to enjoy a snack with the discovery of the stories behind that no one has ever told.

For centuries, apple growers in Japan’s Aomori Prefecture have been creating beautiful heirloom apples using the mojie ringo technique. The process is pretty simple, which basically means exposing the apple to sunlight for a period of time and then applying stencils to ensure that certain parts of the apple peel are discolored. Usually, mojie ringo apples are decorated with messages and symbols of good luck and prosperity, and given as gifts. Large apple varieties like Mutsu or Stark Jumbo are best suited for the mojie ringo technique, as they provide more surface area for intricate designs. The apples using the mojie ringo technique are extremely beautiful. Preparations begin in January, with a pruning operation, to ensure that the remaining flowers receive plenty of sunlight. Growers then use soft wands to hand-pollinate each apple tree flower, and then when the fruit begins to form, they are covered with a laminated plastic bag to both protect the berries from Pests just block sunlight. Keeping apples in the dark for long periods of time increases their sensitivity to light, so when they remove the plastic bags, they begin to produce anthocyanins, a component that gives the skin its red color. In the final stage of the mojie ringo process, stencils are applied over the surface of the apple to ensure that only the skin around the stencils turns red. The stencils are removed during harvesting, revealing the almost white skin underneath. Stencils need to be flexible, as the fruit continues to grow, and otherwise, the style may suffer. According to Culture Trip, the Mojie Ringo technique was perfected by Aomori farmer Haruo Iwasaki, father of Chisato Iwasaki, one of today’s most talented apple artisans. Although the mojie ringo technique may seem quite simple, it requires a lot of work and patience over the long term, and for many growers the effort and attention are insignificant economically. That’s why the old tradition is slowly fading away, only a few Aomori gardens still keep this technique. The mojie ringo technique is also very popular in China and other Asian countries under the name of “tattooing apples”.

With the Mojie Ringo technique, Japanese farmers harness the power of the sun to create beautiful apples without the use of any chemicals. This process is called apple tattooing. Basically, apple growers expose the fruit to sunlight for a period of time and then use stencil molds to shape as desired, keeping the rest of the color unchanged. Usually, the looker will decorate the Mojie Ringo apple with writings that carry messages and symbols of luck and prosperity. Large apple varieties such as Mutsu or Stark Jumbo are best suited to apply the Mojie Ringo technique. With a lot of surface area, one can create complex designs. To apply this perennial technique, apple growers start preparing in January. They prune the branches to make sure the flowers get the most sunlight Growers then use soft-bristled wands to hand-pollinate each flower. When the fruit begins to form, people cover the apple with a multi-layer plastic bag to both protect the fruit from pests and block sunlight. Keeping apples in the dark for a long time increases their sensitivity to light, so when you remove the plastic bags, apples begin to produce anthocyanins, a component that gives the skin its red color. In the final stage of the Mojie Ringo process, a printed stencil mold is placed on the surface of the apple to ensure that only the skin around the stencil turns red. Placing the stencils needs to be flexible, as the fruit continues to grow, otherwise the style may suffer. The Mojie Ringo technique was perfected by Aomori farmer Haruo Iwasaki, father of Chisato Iwasaki, one of today’s most talented apple artisans. Although the Mojie Ringo technique seems quite simple, it requires a lot of work and patience in the long run. It is also one of the reasons many growers no longer pursue this traditional look. There are only a few Aomori orchards that produce eye-catching apples.

Vegan food: Plant-based ingredients continue to become a gourmet trend by 2021. According to a survey by The International Food Information Court, 28% of people say they have add more plant protein during an outbreak. Image: University of Stirling. The number of vegetarians and vegetarians on a regular basis is increasing, so there are also many restaurants serving vegan dishes. It is no coincidence that many young to middle-aged diners turn to vegetarian food to purify their body and maintain their own resistance. Photo: @_eat_and_go, @ valleyuyet_102. Homemade dishes: Since 2020, when the chain of restaurants and eateries is massively closed, people around the world have become more aware of cooking at home. Each person pays more attention to the source of nutrients in the body and believes in restaurants with guaranteed food sources. On social networks, videos suggesting how to make many outstanding delicious dishes also appear more such as self-learning to prepare drinks, cooking deliciously like restaurants … Many people turn from busy to super top. kitchen at home after the pandemic. Drinks that create trends must be mentioned as milk tea, green tea, whipped coffee, cakes … Environmentally friendly packaging: Minimize nylon, plastic bags … is a common slogan found in restaurants in all countries. To protect the environment, restaurant owners and people gradually become aware of not using nylon and plastic bags to reduce harmful waste. Many people have become environmentally conscious customers to keep the air fresh for the community. Fastfood: The time the barbeque is fighting the pandemic is also when the service industry is busier with fast food. Convenience of fast food helps busy people save time and easy access. In Asian countries, fast food delivery service develops strongly with indispensable dishes such as burger, pizza, noodles, fried chicken … Photo: Bottomless. Learn to cook online: Tired of finding a dating site in the midst of a social gap? Close-up meals at home are the perfect choice. Many people look to online cooking classes, recipes from famous chefs to make a sumptuous home party for family and friends. This trend has developed in both Vietnam and other countries around the world since 2020.

1. Curled clothes, towels

This way will help the wardrobe to stay beautiful and tidy. It also particularly saves space and you can get whatever you need without messing up other items.

2. Using baffles

Using dividers to divide the compartments helps you to arrange furniture in a more scientific and reasonable way. Based on the size and purpose of use to separate furniture into different compartments. It will save you maximum time when you need to find something.

3. Create more new spaces

Beds, stairs, and sometimes even a bath are the spaces that can be used to store utensils. Apply this way now to apartments with modest sizes.

4. Use eye-catching decorative baskets or boxes

Colorful baskets will make your home space become more eye-catching. Also, label each box to save your search.

5. No need for shoe cabinets, shoes

If you have too many shoes, but the box takes up space, please design the shoe hanger as shown in the picture.

6. Don’t store things you use every day

For things you use every day, like your jewelry or cosmetics, there’s no need to put them away. Instead, keep it in a lovely box.

7. Use brackets for compact objects

You should design a rack for compact items such as ties, bracelets, necklaces, earrings and even belts in the closet. It will save as much time as you need it, and ensure that they are always safe and not lost.

8. Small baskets

These baskets are the perfect place to store furniture, seasonings for cooking or use in the toilet. You can store it in a drawer for the kitchen and hang it on the wall with the toilet.

9. Make use of corners in the house

All the corners of the small apartment are the perfect place to put the lovely shelves. Take advantage of them to create more storage space for the home.

10. Place to store plastic bags

You do not need to store a large number of plastic bags in another plastic bag, which is unsightly. Think and be more creative because there are many ways to store plastic bags, such as a compact box mounted on a cabinet door …

Source: Bright Side