This is the result of one year of Sa Pa town implementing the project to build a "Clean Sa Pa" urban area in the period of 2023-2025, with a vision to 2030.
Like many other tourist-populated areas, Sa Pa used to have littering problems, and many places were filthy and dirty. It is a pity for Sa Pa, so some people say that Sa Pa is like a beautiful princess who has not been bathed for a long time.
And over the past year, the "beautiful princess" has been bathed. Just one year, but there has been a clear change, a surprising difference. To have a clean Sa Pa like today, the local government and people have made great efforts, determination and drastic actions.
Cleaning up trash is not an easy task. Many localities have launched campaigns with great fanfare and drumbeats, then withdrawn, leaving trash behind.
Cleaning up trash is not a movement or a one-time event, but requires perseverance, persistence, and importantly, seeing the great value created from an environmentally friendly living environment.
One year, the leaders of Sa Pa town closely followed the programs of the "Clean Sa Pa" project, taking turns to be present at different locations, cleaning up trash with the people.
"Clean Sunday" and "Green Friday" were enthusiastically participated in by people.
There are programs that focus on school age such as “One minute clean school”, “The road I take care of”, “Self-managed road”. This is a specific program to clean up trash in schools, and is also a form of education about environmental protection awareness from the young generation, to have a green, clean, beautiful and sustainable environment.
"Clean Sa Pa" is not only about cleaning up trash on the ground, but also cleaning up many other types of trash. These are the programs "say no to plastic", "no car horns", "clean up telecommunications trash", "clean up billboards, posters, welcome gates, signs", "free sanitation stations".
There are 11 streets in the center of Sa Pa town with underground power lines and telecommunication cables, and 56 free toilets serving tourists.
After only one year of implementing the project, Sa Pa has achieved many remarkable results. The success of the first year will be a springboard for the following years until Sa Pa is named a clean city of Vietnam and the region.
That is because at the Southeast Asia Tourism Forum held in Vientiane (Laos) earlier this year, Vietnam had 3 cities including Hue, Quy Nhon, Vung Tau honored as ASEAN clean tourist cities in 2024. If other localities can do it, Sa Pa can do it too.
Of course, there is still a lot to do, some things can be done immediately, but some things need time, need the patience of the whole community. To change people's awareness, to take action to protect the environment, leaders must set an example, must take drastic action. And in the near future, according to the leader of Sa Pa town, the government must use legal tools to punish cases of littering, causing damage to the environment.
People make "Sapa clean", that is creating a great value for their beloved and beautiful homeland. That value is not only to attract tourism, develop the economy, but also contribute to improving people's knowledge, building a civilized Vietnam.
