What’s new in the 2026 ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam Award

The 2026 ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam Award introduces key enhancements in online application submission, management, and evaluation.

Building on the success of the previous edition, the 2026 ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam Award has expanded its assessment framework to cover three pillars: “Green Schools,” “Schools Reducing Plastic Waste,” and “Schools Using Water Safely and Efficiently.”

The assessment framework comprises 15 criteria and 300 points, providing a comprehensive evaluation of environmental protection efforts, from planning and infrastructure improvements to educational activities, monitoring outcomes, and sharing initiatives with the wider community.

Rather than recognizing isolated environmental campaigns or activities, the Award encourages educational institutions to integrate sustainability principles into school management, curricula, and daily school life. Practices such as saving electricity, using water efficiently, reducing single-use plastics, and developing green spaces are expected to become everyday habits among teachers and students.

In addition, the Organizing Committee has fully digitized the application process by upgrading the Ecoschool.vn portal. This year, educational institutions can register and submit their applications entirely online, replacing paper-based submissions.

The system has been enhanced for storage capacity, processing speed, stability, and security, and now allows schools to upload images, videos, documents, and supporting evidence. Digitalizing the submission, management, and evaluation processes also enables the Organizing Committee to compile, categorize, and assess applications more efficiently. This not only saves time and costs but also helps reduce paper consumption, in line with the Award's environmental objectives.

In addition to the main award categories, this year's edition continues to encourage innovative approaches to environmental education, including smart energy management systems, water collection and reuse, waste segregation at source, and recycling initiatives.

Through these efforts, the 2026 ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam Award aims to establish the ASEAN Eco-Schools Network in Viet Nam. The network will serve as a platform that connects educational institutions, facilitates the exchange of experiences, showcases innovative initiatives, and scales up effective environmental protection models.

The network is also expected to create more opportunities for Vietnamese schools to participate in environmental education activities across the ASEAN region, helping nurture a generation of young citizens with greater awareness of and responsibility for sustainable development.

Invitation to the Launch Ceremony of the 2026 ASEAN Eco-Schools Viet Nam Award

1. Time: 8:30 AM, Friday, November 13, 2026.

2. Venue: Tay Ha Noi Primary and Secondary School, Kieu Mai Street, Xuan Phuong Ward, Hanoi.

3. Chair: Leadership of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.

4. Format: Hybrid (in-person and online); Meeting ID: 980 0056 7924; Passcode: A26

5. Official Award Portal: https://ecoschool.vn.

Phuong Linh