Nearly 200 delegates engaged in the collection of waste along Bai Chay beach and on Ha Long Bay. They were also joined by a large number of local residents and tourists. In her remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang emphasised that the protection of the marine environment is facing numerous challenges such as pollution risks posed by untreated waste and wastewater, as well as people’s limited awareness of the issue. The EU and its member nations have significantly contributed to environmental protection and climate change response worldwide. They have actively assisted Vietnam in this regard through cooperation projects on climate change response, biodiversity conservation, forest protection, and waste treatment, among others. The Vietnam - EU Day in Ha Long, initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aimed to help raise businesses and people’s awareness of responsible behaviour towards the environment and the natural ecosystem, thereby helping prevent the pollution and degradation of the marine environment./.