VTN Architects company initiates a project to plant more trees in Việt Nam. File Photo

HÀ NỘI – Popular architecture company VTN Architects, run by award-winning architect Võ Trọng Nghĩa, has started a project to plant trees all over the country.

Called Phủ Xanh Việt Nam (Cover Việt Nam with Green), the project aims to encourage people and agencies to plant trees.

VTN has called to set up a fund and share seeds, small trees, ideas and labour.

The company has contributed VNĐ200 million (US$8,600) to the fund and will ask for a bank to ensure the project is transparent.

According to the company's Facebook page, Ms. Võ Thị Hới from central province of Quảng Bình has started the first activities under the project to cover one of the area's deserted areas with trees.

"If you have any information on an area that needs to be covered with plants or trees – which may be a road, a street or a school that has no financial resources, plan or workforce for the task – just contact us," the site says.

"We will plan with you, invest money or call for support, gather seeds and seedlings, send people to plant and take care of the trees. Especially for barren hills or mountains..." it continues.

"The environment around the world is getting worse and worse with gas emissions, pollution and natural disasters," Nghĩa told Việt Nam News. "I just want to make a small contribution to make our life greener and cleaner."

Founded in 2006, VTN Architects (Võ Trọng Nghĩa Architects) has offices in Hồ Chí Minh City and Hà Nội gathering more than 60 international architects, engineers and staff. The company's designs focus on natural elements and local materials.

The company has won various international prizes including three Green Good Design awards this year from the European Centre for Architecture, Art Design and Urban Studies and The Chicago Athenaeum museum of architecture and design. It received the same award in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

The company won two prizes in the Commercial and Residential – Individual Houses categories at FuturArc Green Leadership in June this year. The awards, which were launched in 2009 by the BCI Group of Companies, recognises innovative and ecologically responsible buildings in Asia. VNS