On May 16, at Cau Giay Park in Hanoi, Lao Dong Newspaper coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment and the Hanoi People's Committee to organize Green Transformation Day 2026 under the theme "Green transformation: A driving force for Vietnam's new growth model."

Attending the program were Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh; Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Huynh Thanh Xuan; Director General of the Department of Innovation, Green Transformation and Industrial Promotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thi Lam Giang; member of the Party Standing Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and Editor-in-Chief of Lao Dong Newspaper Nguyen Ngoc Hien; Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Construction Dao Viet Long; Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Environment Nguyen Minh Tan; and Chairman of the Cau Giay Ward People's Committee Ngo Ngoc Phuong.

The event also welcomed representatives from government agencies, businesses, experts and community organizations participating in the journey toward a green economy, sustainable development and greater public awareness of environmental protection.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh said Vietnam is facing mounting development challenges as climate change, resource depletion, environmental pollution, pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and increasingly stringent green standards in international markets continue to intensify.

According to the Deputy Minister, these challenges also present opportunities for Vietnam to restructure its growth model and improve the productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of the economy.

The Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress clearly identified the need to build a new growth model based on science, technology, innovation, digital transformation and green transformation, while promoting the digital economy, green economy, circular economy and energy transition.

"Therefore, green transformation is no longer an optional encouragement. It has become a mandatory requirement for development, a condition for businesses to participate more deeply in global value chains and a foundation for enhancing national competitiveness," Deputy Minister Le Cong Thanh emphasized.

He said that to build a new growth model, Vietnam must accelerate green transformation by shifting from a resource-intensive growth model to one driven by knowledge, technology, innovation, efficient resource use, emissions reduction and environmental protection.

Green transformation must be applied across every sector and field, including green agriculture, ecological agriculture, low-emission farming, energy-efficient industries, green urban development, green transportation, renewable energy, green tourism, green finance and green consumption.

At the same time, green transformation must become a movement embraced by all sectors of society, with the State playing the role of institutional architect by shaping policies, establishing standards and criteria and creating a favorable and equitable environment.

Businesses are considered the central force in transforming production and business models, while citizens play an important role in changing consumption habits, saving energy, reducing plastic waste and choosing environmentally friendly products and transportation.

In her speech, Nguyen Thi Lam Giang, Director General of the Department of Innovation, Green Transformation and Industrial Promotion under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said she was impressed by the event’s open-space format, which integrated exhibitions and interactive experiences.

She said this was a practical and accessible approach that allowed people to directly observe, experience and discuss the changes taking place in everyday life.

"The program was also designed as a series of activities featuring forums on energy transition, biofuels, green credit and green growth models, creating more meaningful dialogue among policymakers, experts, businesses and the media," she said.

"These are issues that need to be communicated in a simple and practical manner so they go beyond raising awareness and gradually translate into concrete actions in production, business activities and daily life,” Nguyen Thi Lam Giang added.

On this occasion, representatives from the Ministry of Industry and Trade called on the business community to continue investing in green technologies, improving energy efficiency and developing more environmentally friendly products and services.

At the same time, citizens and households were encouraged to adopt practical measures such as conserving electricity and fuel, reducing waste, prioritizing energy-efficient products, and choosing green transportation whenever possible.

"These seemingly small actions, if maintained consistently and spread widely, will create major changes throughout society," Giang said.

Held on the morning of May 16, Green Transformation Day 2026 featured a series of artistic exchange activities with the participation of well-known singers and artists.

Alongside the performances, a key highlight of the event was the exhibition and test-drive experience for electric vehicles, along with the "Trade gasoline for electric" program organized by Lao Dong Newspaper in cooperation with partner organizations.

At the experience zone, visitors were able to explore and test new electric vehicle models, learn about advanced battery technologies, and discover the rapidly expanding EV charging infrastructure network.

At the same time, the "Trade gasoline for electric" program introduced a range of incentives, support policies and practical consultations aimed at encouraging people to switch from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric transportation.

Green Transformation Day 2026 was organized with the expectation of becoming a platform connecting policymakers, businesses, experts and communities in the shared mission of building a green economy, promoting sustainable development and raising social awareness about environmental protection.

Through the program, the organizers hope to raise public awareness of the role of green transformation in socio-economic development while encouraging broad-based participation in building a greener, more sustainable and prosperous Vietnam.