In the evening of March 22nd, 2015, thousands of pupils, students, volunteers and people of Hanoi congregated at the August Revolution Square to participate in the ritual light-off in response to Earth Hour 2015 campaign.

Representatives from Hanoi People's Committee, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Danish Embassy in Vietnam, WWF-Vietnam and Vietnam Electricity in participation of  "turning off the lights" rite.

The ceremony was broadcast live on air of VTV2 with the participation of leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Natural Resources & Environment, Hanoi People's Committee, Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam, Representative of WWF, Representatives of the donors: Vietnam Electricity and Daikin Vietnam.

Mr. Vu Huy Hoang, Minister of Industry and Trade delivered the opening speech. Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Industry and Trade emphasized that "with the role and its responsibilities, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has been exerting its efforts and it will continue to participate actively in the Earth Hour campaign, and it will work in coordination with relevant units in response to this campaign. The Ministry of Industry and Trade appeals to every organization, individual, family, and business for joint efforts in response to climate change. Let's demonstrate our commitment by means of a simple action; turn off the lights and electrical appliances when these are not in use during the 365 days of the year."

Since 2012, Hanoi People's Committee and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have been in coordination to organize Earth Hour Campaign, an important contribution to building up a beautiful image of Hanoi for the people of the country and international friends. The Earth Hour in Hanoi has been on-going extensively over the geographical areas with many forms of publicity.

The Night event in response to Earth Hour 2015 in Hanoi started the campaign for all the other cities in the country, creating a major change for action to save energy and climate change response of people from all walks of life, a practical contribution into the development of a low-carbon economy.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, Vice-chairman of Hanoi People's Committee delivered a speech at the ceremony.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, Vice-chairman of Hanoi People's Committee said: "In response to Earth Hour 2015 campaign with the message "Save energy - Responding to Climate Change", various practical activities have been implemented, in Hanoi, in its all 30 districts, towns simultaneously with communicative activities, creating a vibrant movement in people from all walks of life".

One month after launching, the Earth Hour 2015 Campaign has organized a series of activities in Hanoi. The Poster Design Contest attained nearly 500 works. The Earth Hour Campaign's goodwill Ambassadors had communicative contacts with thousands of students, pupils to disseminate and spread out the message "Saving energy, in response to climate change". Over 2,000 volunteers distrubuted thousands of posters and leaflets in every corner of the city in order to propagate the knowledge and behaviour changes in economical and efficient use of energy.

Sharing the aspiration of Hanoi, the asmosphere of the Earth Hour campaign has filled in the air of other vibrant provinces and across the country. After Hanoi inaugurative light-off ceremony, millions of people in Vietnam and the world community will be counting down the hours, awaiting for the Global Earth Hour with joint action to turn off the unneccessary lights and electrical equipment which is scheduled at 20h30 to 21h30 on the last Saturday of March.

Some photos taken at the light-off rite in response to Earth Hour 2015 campaign in Hanoi: 

Goodwill Ambassador Thuy Van, beautiful in the role of Master Ceremony

  Thousands of young people in attendance at the August Revolution Square

Goodwill Ambassador Ta Quang Thang

Goodwill Ambassador Van Mai Huong

Goodwill Ambassador Dinh Manh Ninh

Trong Tan