Vietnam now ranks at number 17 out of 109 countries in terms of plastic usage. This alarming statistic is partly derived from Vietnamese people’s habit of using plastic bags when shopping everyday. An unofficial statistic shows that Hanoi emits around 4000- 5000 tonnes of garbage everyday, with plastic bags accounting for 7 to 8 percent. This number does not appear to be reducing, meanwhile it takes hundreds of years for plastic bags to completely decompose. It is not only disastrous to the environment but also affects human’s health. Old habits die hard. However, Hanoi’s authorities have been implementing a campaign promoting the use of paper bags instead of plastic ones. The project has gradually been proving effective.-VNA