Two Vietnamese cities, Hoa Lư and Hải Phòng, have been honoured at the 6th ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) Awards and the 5th Certificate of Recognition (COR) ceremony. VNA/VNS Photo Bùi Hoàn

KUALA LUMPUR – Two Vietnamese cities, Hoa Lư and Hải Phòng, have been honoured at the 6th ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable Cities (ESC) Awards and the 5th Certificate of Recognition (COR) ceremony, respectively, held in Langkawi, Kedah State of Malaysia.

The events, part of the 18th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (AMME-18) from September 2–4, underscored Việt Nam’s continued commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.

Hoa Lư was among 10 outstanding cities to receive the ESC Awards, which recognises its notable initiatives in sustainable tourism, environmental education, and awareness-raising in schools. The award highlights cities that demonstrate exceptional commitment to maintaining green, clean, and liveable environments.

At the same ceremony, Hải Phòng was presented with a COR in the category of “Biodiverse and Green Urban Areas”, acknowledging its efforts to conserve biodiversity and expand urban green spaces.

Malaysia’s Acting Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Johari Abdul Ghani said the achievements were a source of pride for the awarded nations and an inspiration for ASEAN’s collective efforts towards a greener, more sustainable future.

He also congratulated Việt Nam on having three national parks recognised as ASEAN Heritage Parks on this occasion: Pù Mát National Park in Nghệ An Province, Đồng Nai Culture and Nature Reserve in Đồng Nai Province, and Xuân Thủy National Park in Ninh Bình Province.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability emphasised that the awards testify to the strong commitment of ASEAN cities to protecting the environment amid rapid urbanisation, while reinforcing the bloc’s determination to share best practices and collaborate towards a greener future. VNA/VNS