With a growing awareness of environmental conservation in today’s society, going green is now becoming a new way of living. Get inspired with Hive Life’s guide to living sustainably in Saigon.
As we become increasingly aware of our carbon footprint on the planet, many people are turning towards a more eco-friendly lifestyle. Although a lifestyle change may seem daunting for some, there are many eco-conscious and sustainable businesses in Saigon to get started with. Here is our guide to living sustainably in Saigon, featuring local eateries, grocers, transportation alternatives, and even some environmental initiatives to get involved with! Read on for everything you need to know to live well while doing good for the environment.
Sustainable Restaurants in Saigon
Pizza 4P’s
Winning the “Essence of Asia” category on Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021, Pizza 4P’s is an “earth to people” restaurant that commits to bringing you the best pizzas and pastas while being at the forefront of implementing environmentally-conscious projects. From utilising a “farm to table” approach through sourcing local organic produce and their jar return and reuse programme for their yogurt and pudding line, to their installation of solar energy systems and food waste minimisation through utilising scrapes, Pizza 4P’s is leading local sustainable F&B efforts. Pamper yourself with their fresh and heavenly house-made artisan cheese and unique fusion pizzas and pastas with an Asian twist, all paired with a delicious selection of natural wines.
Insider’s Tip: Their Crab Tomato Cream Spaghetti with Ricotta Cheese is a must try that will soon become your favourite dish.
Address: 151B Hai Ba Trung, Ward 6, District 3, HCM (click here for other locations)
Open from: Mon-Sun 10am-11pm
Kashew Cheese
Taking plant-based to a whole new level, Kashew Cheese offers a wide array of drinks and dishes featuring their scrumptious artisan cheese and housemade milk, all made from Vietnamese cashew nuts. Feast your eyes- and definitely your belly- with 100% plant-based wholesomeness, whether with a cup of vegan Cà phê sữa Đá, iconic Vietnamese iced coffee, or your new favourite brunch item, Kashew’s La Vita Bella Pesto Panini, a hot sourdough toastie with fresh pesto, topped with mozzarella, aged cheese and vegetables. Stock up your fridge with your favourites, all packaged with recycled paper or glass jars and bottles showing that extra love to the environment. Kashew also collects these milk bottles and offers a cash refund for every bottle returned!
Insider’s Tip: Check out Kashew’s collaboration with local Habiba’s kitchen for a Middle East-bound cheese board featuring special dips including Hummus, Barba, and Muhammara and a wide range of Kashew Aged Cheese!
Address: 14 Tran Ngoc Dien, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCM
Open from: 9am-8pm
Sustainable Groceries in Saigon
ByNature
A young local business with a social responsibility goal to keep the environment healthy, ByNature brings you the freshest “farm-to-fork” experience while putting great care and effort into minimising their carbon footprint in every stage. Their top-notch produce is all natural and free from chemicals, carefully selected and sourced locally from Da Lat and Ben Tre. What’s more, ByNature conducts regular visits to partner farms for quality checks to make sure that you receive clean and up-to-standard greens and fruits. Committed to reducing plastic waste, freshly harvested produce is delivered in bulk in hard plastic crates, and only packaged in paper bags or cardboard boxes when necessary before being sent straight to your door.
Insider’s Tip: Surprise yourself and spice up your cooking with ByNature’s seasonal box of goodness “The Box ByNature” for a random mix of nutritious vegetables and fruits!
Address: 14C12 Thao Dien Street, Thao Dien Ward, HCM
Open from: 9am-5pm
Only Natural
With nearly 30 years of experience in farming and supplying sustainable produce, Only Natural focuses on producing exceptional quality vegetables and fruits with “Clean Green Manners”. Sourced from their own 7 hectare HAACP and Vietgap certified farm in Da Lat, their produce is free from any chemicals and pesticides, and farmed with great care utilising advanced NFT Hydroponics and Soil-less technology along with traditional farming.
Insider’s Tip: Order Only Natural’s wide range of delicious Ready-To-Eat Meals along with your produce box, perfectly convenient for working days yet also packaged with 100% recyclable and biodegradable materials.
Address: 2279/9 Huynh Tan Phat, KP7, Nha Be Town, Nha Be District, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Open from: 8am-5pm
Sustainable Transport in Saigon
Dat Bike
Giving Vietnam’s beloved motorbike an eco-conscious upgrade, Dat Bike’s 100% made in Vietnam electric motorbikes guarantee you will travel in style, while being environmentally friendly. Powered by a high quality lithium-ion battery which only takes 3 hours to fully charge, the Dat Bike Weaver can take you on a full 100km ride with no gas exhaustion or pollution. The battery can last up to 10 years before requiring replacement, and once you do, there is minimal harm to the environment as it is 80% recyclable. If you are concerned about the local rainy season, don’t worry, Dat Bike Weaver is also waterproof!
Insider’s Tip: Take a Dat Bike for a ride with their test drive service which they also offer straight from your home.
Address: 49B Tu Xuong Street, District 3, HCM
Open from: 9am-8pm
Sustainable Body and Skin Care in Saigon
Lai Day Refill Station
When thinking about zero waste solutions, Lai Day Refill Station is your go-to spot for anything and everything green and sustainable lifestyle-related. Offering both refillable and reusable essentials that are mostly locally sourced, you can find eco-friendly alternatives to home care, personal care, maternal care, and even some sustainable treats for when you are on the go. Lai Day also focuses on implementing ongoing environmental initiatives. From hosting community and environment focused events such as fundraisers and weekend thrift markets, to Earth Day clean ups, to charity donations and tree planting projects, they go above and beyond to make sure a sustainable lifestyle is accessible to all in Saigon. If you want to learn more about the environment and how to live greener, follow their social media or blog for eco-friendly insights, tips, and tricks.
Insider’s Tip: Explore Lai Day’s free in-store green book library for a selection of books on the environment and eco-conscious living. They also have a free give-and-take seed library to share and start planting love in the nooks & crannies of Lai Day.
Address: 47/1 Quoc Huong Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCM
Open from: 9am-9pm
Sustainable Fashion in Saigon
TimTay
Dedicated to eco-friendly living, local fashion brand TimTay brings you high quality timeless pieces which are made from premium natural materials. Employing zero-waste design techniques with easy silhouettes and fluid forms, their garments are highly durable and multi-purpose- your go-to outfit for any occasion. Placing craftsmanship at their heart, Tim Tay collaborates closely with global artisans to create unique handmade pieces and original fabrics, accentuating the long-lasting beauty and importance of age-old techniques.
Insider’s tip: If you already own a clothing piece from TimTay, you can exchange it for a different one through the TimTay Exchange community to extend a garment’s life cycle.
Website: timtay.me
For more eco-friendly F&B businesses, check out Cocolist. And if you are looking for community-based projects to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste, make sure to follow Trash Hero Ho Chi Minh and Plastic People.
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