In 2025, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) provided sustainable food choices on campus for students, staff and visitors, including vegetarian options. The Green Campus Practice Regulation applied to university-managed canteens, shops and food suppliers at UEH and UEH Mekong. It required food safety and traceability, prioritised local, organic, VietGAP- and HACCP-certified products, and discouraged single-use plastic packaging. Campus catering arrangements were intended to make environmentally responsible and reasonably priced food choices accessible in everyday university life.
UEH embedded sustainable food procurement and consumption requirements in the rules governing suppliers. Canteens and shops were required to document the origin of food and prioritise local and organic products. Providers using responsibly sourced seafood were given preference; free distribution of plastic bags was prohibited; and suppliers committed to reducing and ultimately eliminating single-use plastic and paper products. Non-compliance could lead to warnings or termination of contracts.
Beyond canteen operations, UEH promoted reusable food containers and water bottles, access to shared microwaves and filtered drinking water, and balanced diets with sufficient vegetables, in line with nutritional guidance.
In addition to everyday catering, UEH made vegetarian meal registration available for all catering sessions of UEH Day 2025, held in July. The advance-registration approach accommodated different dietary needs while limiting unnecessary food preparation. Together, these activities supported sustainable food choices on campus, contributing to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
| Policies / Activities | Scope of application | Deployment | Result |
| Green University Practice Guidelines – Requirements for All Canteens and Food Outlets | All canteens, supermarkets, shops, and food suppliers at UEH (Ho Chi Minh City) and UEH Mekong (Vinh Long) campuses. | In 2025, UEH continued to apply the Green Campus Practice Regulations to all food and service providers under the University’s management in Ho Chi Minh City and UEH Mekong.
According to the publicly available version of the regulations: Article 6, Clause 1 – Ethical Supply: Food is sourced from suppliers with food safety certifications and traceability; priority is given to local, organic, or VietGAP/HACCP certified products. Article 8, paragraphs 2, 3 and 5 – Reducing single-use plastics: Implement requirements to reduce plastic packaging in canteens, shops, and dining halls; encourage reusable items and require suppliers to commit to gradually reducing single-use plastic products. Article 17, Clause 1 – Responsibilities of the unit providing goods and services: To provide healthy food at reasonable prices for students, staff, workers, and visitors. Article 17, paragraphs 4 and 6: Encourage the use of reusable containers and require suppliers to sign a commitment to gradually reduce the use of single-use plastic and paper products. In addition to the general regulations, UEH canteens offer vegetarian, eco-friendly options at reasonable prices.
Image: UEH’s Green Campus Practice Regulations Source of evidence: Regulations on Green University Practice – Green Campus (issued with Decision No. 2059/QD-DHKT-CSVC) (UEH Green Campus – currently in effect document) |
In 2025, UEH continued to apply uniformly the Green University Practice Regulations to 100% of food suppliers under the University’s management in Ho Chi Minh City and UEH Mekong.
According to the UEH Green University Food Policy, all canteens in the system offer vegetarian and eco-friendly food options at reasonable prices, in addition to requirements for safe food, traceable origin, and minimized single-use packaging. Maintaining vegetarian options in the cafeteria facilitates access to sustainable food for students, staff, workers, and visitors to the campus in their daily lives, not just at individual events. |
| Safe and healthy canteens at UEH campuses. | Students, staff, and visitors at UEH campuses and dormitories. | Canteens, supermarkets, and convenience stores are conveniently located at the Nguyen Van Linh campus and other locations.
Food Safety Action Month 2025: Guiding students to choose clean food, a balanced diet according to the Ministry of Health’s nutritional pyramid, and selecting hygienic canteens on campus.
Image: The canteen ensures quality service and meets the dining needs of students at the Nguyen Van Linh campus. Source of evidence: Nguyen Van Linh Campus – UEH’s green, smart, and international learning space (UEH Portal – page undated, image uploaded September 13, 2025) |
Students have access to safe, traceable meals, including vegetarian options available on campus.
Raising awareness about nutrition and healthy food consumption. |
| Offering vegetarian meal options at UEH Day 2025. | UEH officials and employees participated in the UEH Day 2025 program in Khanh Hoa. | On May 21, 2025, UEH announced the registration plan for vegetarian meals for attendees of UEH Day 2025, held from July 24 to 26, 2025 in Khanh Hoa. According to the announcement, vegetarian meal options were available for all sessions of the program. Participants should register their preferences before the event so that the Organizing Committee can proactively prepare the menu.
Image: Announcement for registering for vegetarian meals for UEH Day 2025 |
Within the framework of UEH Day 2025, held from July 24-26, 2025 in Khanh Hoa, the Organizing Committee arranged vegetarian meals for all food service sessions and serve according to the pre-registered needs of participants.
This activity demonstrates UEH’s proactive approach in integrating vegetarian food options into the logistics of large-scale events, ensuring that the diverse dietary needs of its staff and employees are met. The program attracted nearly 900 UEHers. |
| Expanding the supply of traceable food – a collaboration between UEH and SATRA | Students and staff at UEH campuses and dormitories. | On June 19, 2025, UEH and SATRA signed a cooperation agreement for the period 2025–2030, aiming to develop facilities serving the UEH community, strengthen welfare programs, and expand cooperation in training, employment, and social responsibility.
The agreement provides a basis for UEH and SATRA to research and develop solutions to improve the quality of services and access to essential goods for students, in line with the development orientation of a safe and affordable food supply system on the university campus. The two sides co-founded the CEL Scholarship Fund to support disadvantaged students.
Image: Overview of the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between UEH and SATRA Source of evidence: UEH and Saigon Trading Corporation – Limited Liability Company (SATRA) signed a cooperation agreement (UEH Portal, June 20, 2025) – Original image file |
The signing of the cooperation agreement between UEH and SATRA has been completed, forming a basis for long-term cooperation on amenities and benefits: vending machines, Satrafoods stores on campus; student discounts; “green hour” deals for lunch and dinner; and a mobile market at the dormitory with clean agricultural products.
Expand access to traceable, affordable food for students. Establishing a partnership with SATRA in 2025 complements UEH’s ethical sourcing and sustainable consumption policy, aiming to expand responsible food choices in the next phase. |
These examples confirm that UEH provides sustainable food options, including vegetarian options, for everyone on campus, with regulations applied uniformly to all canteens and food outlets.
Results in 2025
In 2025, UEH continued to provide sustainable food options at its canteen system, adhering to the Green University Practice Regulations on responsible sourcing, traceability, prioritizing local ingredients, and minimizing single-use packaging. The provision of vegetarian and eco-friendly food options contributes to meeting the diverse dietary needs of students, staff, workers, and visitors to the university.
Following the achievements of 2024, UEH maintained vegetarian options in its canteen system in 2025, while also incorporating vegetarian meal services into large-scale programs. In addition to the activities already implemented, the cooperation agreement with SATRA, signed in 2025, lays the foundation for further development of a safe, traceable, and affordable food supply in the coming years.
Through the integration of sustainable food provision, supplier management, and the promotion of responsible consumption, UEH continues to develop a green dining environment, enhance access to healthy and environmentally friendly food options, and contribute to the achievement of SDG 2 – Zero Hunger and SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production.