Vietnam's Plastic Problem

Every day, Vietnam produces thousands of tonnes of plastic waste. Much of it comes from single-use items such as bags, straws and food boxes, which are used for a few minutes but stay in the environment for hundreds of years.

When plastic ends up in rivers, it is carried to the sea, where it harms fish, turtles and seabirds. Over time, it breaks into tiny pieces called microplastics, which can even enter the food we eat.

Fortunately, attitudes are changing. Many supermarkets now wrap vegetables in banana leaves, and young people carry reusable bottles. Experts say that if each person refused just one plastic bag a day, the country would save millions of bags every week.