Vietnam Airlines and ESG: Tangible Action for a Sustainable Future

In recent years, ESG – Environmental, Social, and Governance – has become a key component that many businesses are incorporating into their strategies to achieve sustainable development. As the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines recognizes that ESG is not only aligned with global trends but also deeply connected to the company’s long-term vision and identity in this new era.

Strategic thinking – methodical implementation

Vietnam Airlines views ESG not just as a commitment or a plan on paper, but as a principle embedded in every step it takes, every partnership it builds, and every action it executes. ESG is fully integrated into the company’s operational and managerial mindset, shaping a culture of responsible development. The airline considers ESG a key growth pillar alongside digital transformation, fleet modernization, and service quality enhancement, aiming to align gradually with international standards and meet ever-rising customer expectations. Vietnam Airlines is implementing measurable, trackable initiatives that create lasting value. ESG is no longer a timely option but an essential path for any modern business.

In the environmental domain, Vietnam Airlines has launched a number of effective initiatives, including research into the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), optimizing flight paths to reduce CO? emissions, minimizing in-flight plastic waste, and adopting technologies to conserve resources. On the social front, the airline actively integrates community responsibility into internal training programs, promoting digital skills, technological literacy, and environmental awareness among its employees, while also supporting community greening projects in multiple localities.

Most notably, ESG is being swiftly implemented through partnerships with capable executional allies, cutting-edge technology platforms, and collaborators who share a commitment to sustainable development. This is not only key to operational efficiency but also a fundamental condition to ensure that the vision of sustainability remains consistent and scalable in the long term. In essence, by working with specialized organizations, Vietnam Airlines is building a strong ESG foundation driven by focused and meaningful action.

Partnering for a Greener Vietnam

The campaign “For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam” is a prime example of how Vietnam Airlines integrates ESG into its business operations. Launched in 2024 and scaled up in 2025, this is a trilateral initiative involving Vietnam Airlines, the Momo e-wallet platform, and People and Nature Reconciliation (Pannature). The campaign aims to restore degraded natural forests in the limestone mountains along the border of Hoa Binh and Son La, an ecologically vital area that once served as the “green lungs” of the Northwest and is home to the critically endangered white-cheeked black gibbon.

The contribution mechanism is simple yet effective: for every Vietnam Airlines ticket worth VND2 million or more booked or paid via Momo, VND5,000 is automatically contributed to a reforestation fund. Customers may also choose to donate additional amounts through the app’s donation feature. Thanks to digital technology, all fund flows and contributions are transparently tracked and updated in real time, strengthening public trust and encouraging community participation. The on-the-ground activities are managed by Pannature, a non-profit with over 20 years of experience in biodiversity conservation and community development in Vietnam. Every step of the process, from site assessment and seedling selection to planting, care, and monitoring, is scientifically planned and locally integrated to support longterm sustainable livelihoods.

In 2025, the campaign continues to spread the spirit of “regeneration,” with a goal to restore at least 60 hectares of forest, writing a new, vibrant chapter for the Northwest, often dubbed Vietnam’s “tourism muse.” The initiative has already made an impact, winning double honors in the “Sustainable Development Ideas” category at the 2024 Human Act Prize, a national award celebrating community-driven action.

The success of “For a Green and Sustainable Vietnam” clearly shows how ESG can be effectively and sustainably integrated into business operations when driven by genuine dedication and long-term commitment. It also reflects Vietnam Airlines’ steadfast goal to embed sustainability into its core operations through well-designed programs, implemented by professional partners, and aimed at creating lasting positive impacts on nature, people, and the country.

With this approach to ESG, Vietnam Airlines continues to assert its position as a leading state-owned enterprise, where business growth always goes hand-in-hand with community responsibility, environmental protection, and cultural preservation. Looking ahead, the airline will continue expanding its collaboration with strategic partners to reinforce a development model that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship, bridging the journey through the skies with the journey toward a greener future.

Source: Bao Nguyen/Heritage