Key takeaways
- Under Vietnam's Decree 08/2022/ND-CP, hotels and tourist areas are among the places expected to stop circulating and using single-use plastic products after 2025.
- In late October 2026, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment proposed a new approach. Properties should follow the official text and local regulations.
- A sensible order: bathroom refill amenities, dry amenities on request and alternative materials, drinking water, packaging.
- Only announce results you have measured: bottles avoided and equivalent plastic weight.
Cutting single-use plastic is shifting from a gesture of responsibility to an operating requirement in hospitality. But where to start, how to do it without hurting guest experience, and how to measure results honestly are still open questions for many properties.
The legal framework in Vietnam
- Decree 08/2022/ND-CP, Article 64: provincial People's Committees are to ensure that after 2025, single-use plastic products and hard-to-biodegrade plastic packaging are not circulated or used at shopping centres, supermarkets, hotels and tourist areas. After 31 December 2030, production and import of single-use plastic products stop (with some exceptions).
- New proposal (31/10/2026): a draft decree from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment proposes moving from a ban to a restriction, under which establishments such as hotels would not provide these products free of charge. This is only a draft and not yet in force.
Note: many provinces and cities have issued their own roadmaps. Check the current rules where your property operates. This article is for reference and is not legal advice.
Priorities: what to do first
Bathroom refill amenities
Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and hand wash make up the largest number of bottles. Moving to dispensers with 5-litre refill cans removes the most bottles while guests use them as usual.
Dry amenities on request and alternative materials
Provide toothbrushes, combs, razors and cotton buds only on request, or switch to materials such as bamboo, wheat straw or paper. See Dry Amenities.
In-room drinking water
Replace plastic water bottles with glass carafes and filtered water stations per floor, where operations allow.
Shipping packaging and sorting
Prefer large packs with fewer units. Used HDPE cans are sorted separately and handed to a recycling collector.
Measuring results to report honestly
Formula
Bottles avoided per month = Occupied room nights × Bottles previously placed per room night
Plastic reduced ≈ Bottles avoided × Weight of one empty bottle (weighed) − Weight of refill cans used.
| Indicator | How to measure | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Mini bottles avoided | Formula above | Monthly |
| Equivalent plastic weight | Weigh a sample of bottles and cans | Quarterly |
| Dry amenities on request rate | Units issued ÷ room nights | Monthly |
| Cans sorted for recycling | Cans handed to the collector | Monthly |
Keeping guest experience while cutting plastic
- Attractive dispensers with the property's logo, within easy reach in the bathroom.
- A short message explaining why, in the room or on a card.
- Dry amenities always available when needed, just one call away.
- A consistent scent between bathrooms and public spaces.
How Om helps: when a property prepares a sustainability report, Om provides packaging information (plastic type, pack format) and quantities ordered for reference. See Om's green commitment.
To roll out step 1 properly, follow the 30-day dispenser refill rollout and work out your amenity cost per room night.
Frequently asked questions
Do HDPE refill cans count as single-use plastic?
Refill cans hold and dispense product many times during operations, then are sorted and handed to a recycling collector. Check the exact classification against local guidance.
Where should we start?
Guest bathrooms usually have the most bottles, so switching to refill there gives the clearest result.
Do international guests welcome it?
International guests increasingly value properties with clear action on plastic, as long as the experience stays convenient and clean.
Sources: Ministry of Industry and Trade: rules after 2025 under Decree 08/2022 · VnBusiness: Ministry of Agriculture and Environment proposal (31/10/2026)
