On January 18, 2023, Lang Son Geopark Management Board coordinated with the Division of Culture and Information and the People's Committees of Huu Lien, Yen Thinh Communes, Huu Lung district to carry out community engagement to protect the environment "For a waste-free Huu Lien commune on the eve of the new year 2023".

Environmental protection activity was organized in the form of a contest with seven participating teams seven villages in Huu Lien commune including Tan Lai, Ba Lang, Lien Hop, Doan Ket, Lang Ben, Lang Que, Lan Chau. The teams cleaned up households (private houses, barns, kitchens, gates…) and public areas (village roads, alleys, relics, cultural houses, Community Tourism Villages...). The contest received active participation and response local authorities, socio-political organizations and people all walks of life in the commune; demonstrating the spirit, responsibility, joy and pride of the community in joining hands to protect the environment, towards building the image of a sustainable community-based tourism village and affirming the feasibility of building a model "A waste-free Huu Lien commune in 2023".

At the end of the contest, the Organizing Committee awarded prizes to seven teams, of which, one first prize for Doan Ket village, one second prize for Lang Que village, one third prize for Lien Hop village and four consolation prizes for the villages of Ba Lang, Lang Ben, Lan Chau and Tan Lai. Total amount of garbage collected is 500 bags (estimated about one ton of waste).

The activity contributes to propagating and raising community awareness, roles and responsibilities of officials and people of Huu Lien commune on environmental protection. Specifically: limiting the use of hard-to-decompose plastic bags and single-use plastic products; not littering everywhere; practicing hygiene habits in households and public places. Since then, it will help limit the acts of causing environmental pollution, creating a "green - clean - beautiful" environment in the locality; helping people to be responsible and proud in joining hands to protect the environment, towards building the image of a Huu Lien commune with a sustainable community-based tourism village and a model commune in Lang Son Geopark; creating a widespread effect in environmental protection, leaving a good impression on domestic and international tourists when visiting Lang Son Geopark.

Pham Huong