Keep Hanoi Clean

About Keep Hanoi Clean

Keep Hanoi Clean started in May 2016 when James Kendall (an American English teacher) and a dozen of his friends cleaned a garbage-choked canal in Vietnam’s capital city. With this first event, a movement was started.

The early days of KHC were filled with regular weekend community cleanups throughout the core districts of Hanoi. People of all ages and backgrounds, both foreign and local, joined together to improve the city that they loved. 

The numbers of volunteers quickly grew from hundreds to thousands – and KHC were also able to develop partnerships with local businesses, social organizations, and local government offices. 

In 2018 KHC became a registered Vietnamese social enterprise organization to enable their work to have a deeper, broader, and more sustainable impact. 

A core team of a half-dozen dedicated volunteers continued to lead. Bui Thi Ngoc Diep became the owner and president, while Douglas Snyder assumed the role of general director. 

In addition to monthly community cleanups, KHC held their first second-hand clothing sale. This quickly became a regular initiative and eventually developed into the now hugely popular Green Gem Shop. 

The Green Gem Shop is a valuable source of revenue for KHC’s overall operations – while at the same time helping Hanoi’s citizens to shop sustainably.