On 5th March 2016, Ministry of Industry and Trade launched Earth Hour 2016. The kick-off ceremony was held at University of Science and Technology. About 3,000 students, volunteers, groups and clubs joined the campaign. 

Earth Hour is an international event started by World Wild Fund (WWF). It was famously started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007. Since then it has grown to engage more than 172 countries and territories worldwide, including Vietnam. 

Mr. Nguyen Viet Son - Deputy Director General of General Directorate of Energy speaking at the kick-off ceremony of Earth Hour 2016

This year Earth Hour Event with the message “Small Action - Big Impact” aims at encouraging the community, especially the youth to take part in the campaign. 

This is the 8th year Vietnam has joined Earth Hour and also the fifth year Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) has coordinated the campaign. Earth Hour has been organized annually with the technical support of the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam and WWF. Besides, Vietnam Electricity and Daikin Vietnam will be the sponsors of  the campaign.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Dung, Head of Business Department of Vietnam Electricity

At the kick-off ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Viet Sơn - Deputy Director General of General Directorate of Energy, said, “Small actions such as turning off  unnecessary electrical devices, conserving water, planting trees will create big impact for community, build energy saving habits and protect the environment.”

Delagates at the ceremony

 Mr. Trinh Quoc Vu - Director General of Department of Science Technology and Energy Efficiency

Ambassadors of Earth Hour 2016 are Ms. Charlotte Laursen -  Danish Ambassador in Vietnam, singer Ta Quang Thang and singer Thuy Chi.

 Ms Charlotte Laursen - Danish ambassador

At the ceremony, the organizer announced the rules of Energy saving bag design competition. The competition was be officially launched on 20th February 2016. Works can be submitted from 10th March to 19th March. The organizer will select the most outstanding ones and award prizes in the end of March. 

Assistant Professor Pham Hoang Luong - Vice Rector of Hanoi University of Science and Technology

Ambassador Thuy Chi and Ta Quang Thang

After the kick-off event, additional activities in response to Earth Hour 2016 will be organized in the whole country. Lights-off event will be carried out from 20:30 pm to 21:30 pm on 19th March 2016 at August Revolution Square, Hanoi with the presence of the city’s leaders, citizens and students. The event is expected to be live streamed on Vietnam Television.

Song Thuong