How to Keep Your Trip to Ho Chi Minh City Sustainable
Waste has always been an issue in Vietnam, but it’s only recently that the government has started to step in with serious measures. While it’ll still be decades before the practices are widespread, we can all do our part by supporting Ho Chi Minh’s many sustainability-focussed ventures. Here is a handy guide to get you started.
Food and drink
1. L’Herbanyste
Shop, Spa, Swimming Pool
The first port of call for those looking for an eco-friendly stay, L’Herbanyste is a lush villa set in Thao Dien’s expat enclave and converted into the best of environmental everything: vegetarian café, eco-retail store from local artisans, holistic treatment room with Vietnamese skincare, design studio and workshop, plus a cosy pool to while away your days. Surrounded by the lush green of District 2, it’s an easy start on your sustainable journey.
2. Organik House
Shop
Organik House has only been around for a couple years, but it’s established itself as arguably the city’s best sustainable restaurant. Set down an alley in hip Da Kao, it serves up vegan-only food sourced locally, with dishes that are affordable, ecological and delicious. It’s also branched out into homeware too, with a range of biodegradable products to bring back with you.
3. Talk Barista Saigon
Coffee Shop, Cafe, Vietnamese
Vietnam’s coffee obsession often leads to short cuts, many a shop serving up slop riddled with flavourings. For a cleaner, eco-focused cup, head to Talk Barista, a proudly organic coffee shop that serves rare beans from famed sustainable coffee farm Son Pacamara. It also offers a number of talks for would-be baristas and coffee shop owners, highlighting the importance of fair-trade beans.
4. Below Whisky Den
Bar, Cocktail Bar, Vietnamese
Need something to take the edge off after a hard day of being sustainable? Hidden speakeasy Below keeps that environmentalism going strong, with an entire menu dedicated to sustainable cocktails: fruit and herbs are recycled into various original concoctions, garnishes whipped up using various leftover peels and every drink is served in reused soda cans.
Shopping
5. Ginkgo
Shop
Possibly the most popular sustainable fashion brand in Vietnam, Ginkgo has stores all across the city, blending organic fabrics and irreverent country-centric designs for pieces that appeal to both locals and visitors. Its T-shirts and traditionally inspired dresses might be the most sought-after, but we’re equally big fans of its recycled accessories, including handbags, stationery cases, notepads and mugs.
6. Metiseko
Shop
Metiseko prides itself on being Vietnam’s premier high-end sustainable fashion brand, founded by two French designers and with a strong focus on ensuring all their pieces are made in Vietnam. Using organic cotton, Vietnamese silk and other locally sourced fabrics, they trace each step of the supply chain to ensure a fully ecological approach, offering a full range that stretches from clothes to accessories and soft furnishings for the home.
7. Super Vision
Shop
8. Anupa Eco Boutique
Shop
Handbags and shoes are two all-important accessories in every women’s wardrobe. But the mass production and high use of leather can strain the environment. Anupa is focused on high-quality accessories and takes great care in sourcing the entire production cycle, from sustainable leather through to ethnical production methods, as well as selling an impressive range of local artisan jewellery and silk pieces.
Living
9. Zero Waste Saigon
Shop
10. Lai Day
Store
Vietnam’s recycling policy is questionable to say the least, so take no chances and opt for refillable products. Lai Day prides itself on being a refill station, with three separate stores at major hotspots around Saigon, offering everything from bath products and toiletries to sunscreen, hand sanitiser, perfumes and other on-the-go items. It also has a healthy selection of recycled and eco-friendly homeware items, meaning you can sustainably kit your entire house in one store.
Green Lady / Lintimate
These companies sell fully reusable menstrual products. Both Green Lady and Lintimate sell cups that are fully recyclable and pads that are reusable, alongside underwear, gels and other products that aid comfort. For people on every level of the economic ladder, they’re helping the sustainability cause.
11. An Lam Retreats Saigon River
Eco Hotel
The carbon footprints of regular hops around Southeast Asia aren’t in-keeping with a sustainability minded approach. For your next break, head 20-minutes up the river to Am Lam, an eco-focused resort set among Saigon’s abundant nature. Sustainability is high on the agenda here, with everything from the furnishings to the food ecologically minded – and while it’s not cheap, with rooms starting at £158, it’s worth it for your peace of mind.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.