Finding eco-friendly products in Ho Chi Minh City

The rise of environmentalism has finally reached Ho Chi Minh City and people are starting to opt for more eco-friendly products rather than single-use straws and plastic bags. Several small, local businesses has taken up the fight to fight plastic use and fast fashion. The locals are becoming more aware of the alarming amounts of waste that’s being piled up in Vietnam and are trying to find solutions that are renewable and will last longer.

Whether you live in Ho Chi Minh City or you’re visiting, it’s worth paying a visit to stores that sell more eco-friendly products. Why not invest in a water bottle instead that you can refill with water instead of buying several plastic bottles? Or why not change your plastic toothbrush to one that’s been made with bamboo, which are biodegradable. Here are a few places where you can find eco-friendly products in Ho Chi Minh City.

1. The Organik House – Eco

Address: 7F Nguyễn Thị Minh Khai, Bến Nghé, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh 700000, Vietnam

This popular vegetarian restaurant is situated in District 1 where you can enjoy some delicious vegetarian meals. They use fresh, organic ingredients so your food will taste even better. But besides being a restaurant, they also sell products such as bamboo toothbrushes, natural soaps, reusable straws, and more. They don’t use any plastic here either but instead has replaced it with cutlery, bowls and plates that are made from natural plant fibers. The best thing? They’re fully biodegradable so you can throw it away with a good conscience.

2. Zero Waste Saigon

Just as the name implies, this business wants to promote zero waste by tackling issues such as plastic use. Although they only have an online store at the moment, you can find many of their products in other places such as Italiani’s. In their online store you can find everything from canvas bags, coconut bowls, bamboo straws, natural soaps, drink bottles and much more. In their website they’ve also listed several businesses that’s been reviewed by the team at Zero Waste Saigon and who has adopted waste free practises.

3. Saigon Suds

As an effort to fight the negative effects pollution has on the skin, Saigon Suds began to experiment with soap-making in their kitchens and discovered that soap doesn’t have to contain a bunch of chemicals in order to smell good. They have created natural soaps, some that are vegan, and are known for being gentle to your skin. You’ll also find shampoo bars and face oils that all contain natural ingredients. Not only does everything they create smell fantastic, but if you look at the reviews they’ve gotten, everyone raves about them. You can purchase their products either on their Facebook page.

4. Rustea

Address: 49 Cách Mạng Tháng 8, Phường Phạm Ngũ Lão, Quận 1, Hồ Chí Minh, Vietnam

You can find this minimalistic clothing brand in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The founder Jo Lam wanted to create clothings that are both comfortable and cozy, which is how Rustea started. But it’s not just any clothing brand – the founder wants people to become more aware of how to reduce waste in the fashion industry. The clothes are basic and simple, but the founder means that those garments are more long lasting since it never goes out of fashion and is therefore a more sustainable choice. They also use 100% natural fabrics and make smaller accessories with the leftover fabrics, to make sure that nothing goes to waste. Natural fabrics are also much better for the environment than synthetic ones.

It has not always been easy finding eco-friendly products in Vietnam but the demand is growing more and local businesses are opening up their eyes to this business, so it’s becoming easier to be more environmentally conscious. And after taking a look at this list, you now know where to go to find those bamboo straws.

When you visit Vietnam, you have to apply for a Vietnam visa in order to enter the country. The process is easy and there’s three options to choose from, depending on where you’re from. There are two online options – one is acquiring an E-Visa, which is only available for certain countries, and the other is to get a Visa on Arrival. If you’re planning on flying to Vietnam, this is a good option. Applying online means you only need a computer and internet, then fill out a form and wait for a reply. If you need an emergency visa, you can get one within a few hours. This costs a bit more but is worth it if you’ve for example, forgotten to apply for a visa and leaving within a day. The third option is to go to your nearest Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate and apply with them.