The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) continued to maintain a free drinking water supply system across its learning facilities, work areas and dormitories in 2025, to meet the daily drinking water needs of students, lecturers and staff. The system includes drinking water stations in teaching-floor corridors, hot and cold water dispensers in lecturer rooms and offices, and drinking water filtration devices in the dormitory areas. This activity helps ensure convenient access to drinking water without having to buy bottled water at the free water points, while also supporting an environmentally friendly learning and working environment.
Building on infrastructure installed in previous years, UEH focused on maintaining the drinking water supply, managing equipment and organizing system maintenance in 2025. At the same time, the University encourages the use of personal water bottles at the water points, thereby reducing dependence on single-use plastic bottles and promoting sustainable consumption practices, contributing to SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.
Free drinking water supply system in learning areas
UEH has built a free drinking water supply system to serve daily needs at its training facilities. According to information published by the University, drinking water dispensers are located on teaching floors so that students, lecturers and staff can access drinking water while studying and working.
The water points are placed in shared areas such as corridors, making it easy for learners to get water without buying bottled drinking water. Some points use free-standing water stations with a tap, directly accessible from the building’s circulation areas.
In 2025, UEH continued to build on the existing system, aiming to maintain the free drinking water service on campus and meet the essential needs of the learning community.
Additional evidence on equipment scale: The list of drinking water machines compiled by the UEH Infrastructure Management Office on 30/03/2026 for the maintenance tender records 73 drinking water devices in public areas and dormitories. Of these, 71 devices have an installation year before 2026; the two devices recorded with the year 2026 are not counted as devices that existed in the 2025 data period. The list shows the type, location and installation year, helping to determine the scope of the system already invested in, but it does not replace operation records or confirmation that each machine supplied water free of charge in 2025.
Drinking water station in a teaching-floor corridor, part of the free drinking water supply system announced by UEH.
Source: UEH Sustainability (02/11/2025), “6.3.3. Free drinking water supply”, image Picture106. https://future.ueh.edu.vn/633-cung-cap-nuoc-uong-mien-phi/
Free drinking water in work areas, meeting rooms and lecturer rooms
In addition to learning areas, UEH provides hot and cold water dispensers in lecturer rooms, meeting rooms and work areas to meet the daily drinking water needs of lecturers, staff and other users of these spaces.
The devices shown in UEH’s evidence images include hot and cold water dispensers from brands such as Toshiba and Panasonic. Placing the devices in work spaces gives users convenient access to drinking water and reduces the need for individual bottled drinks.
UEH implements this activity as part of its system of amenities serving learners and personnel, helping to build a convenient working environment and supporting responsible resource-use practices.
Additional evidence on equipment in work areas: The maintenance tender list prepared on 30/03/2026 records 78 hot – cold drinking water machines across UEH’s units and work spaces, of which three have an installation year of 2025. This list provides information on the equipment and when it was installed; it should not be read as the number of machines that were inspected for operation or confirmed as free of charge specifically in 2025. This number is not added to the group of machines in the public-area list until asset codes have been cross-checked to exclude duplicates.
Hot – cold water dispenser serving drinking water needs in UEH work areas and lecturer rooms.
Source: UEH Sustainability (02/11/2025), “6.3.3. Free drinking water supply”, image Picture103. https://future.ueh.edu.vn/633-cung-cap-nuoc-uong-mien-phi/
A UEH meeting room equipped with drinking water devices to serve work and meeting activities.
Source: UEH Sustainability (02/11/2025), “6.3.3. Free drinking water supply”, image Picture104. https://future.ueh.edu.vn/633-cung-cap-nuoc-uong-mien-phi/
Drinking water equipment in the set of facility images serving UEH lecturers and staff.
Source: UEH Sustainability (02/11/2025), “6.3.3. Free drinking water supply”, image Picture105. https://future.ueh.edu.vn/633-cung-cap-nuoc-uong-mien-phi/
Encouraging personal water bottles and limiting single-use plastic bottles
Providing free drinking water at UEH campuses not only meets drinking water needs but also makes it easier to form the habit of using reusable personal water bottles.
Through the machines and taps, learners and staff can use their personal bottles to get water, reducing the need to buy bottled water during the day. This is one of the actions UEH encourages as part of its vision of building a green, clean and sustainable university environment.
The combination of water supply infrastructure and personal habits helps support the goal of reducing single-use plastic waste. However, the system’s main role for indicator 6.3.3 remains providing free drinking water to users at the university.
Drinking water systems serving students in UEH dormitories
UEH dormitories in Ho Chi Minh City
UEH provides drinking water machines at two dormitory complexes, the 135A Tran Hung Dao Dormitory and the 43-45 Nguyen Chi Thanh Dormitory, serving resident students in their studies and daily life.
According to the article “Information on study and living support at UEH in the new semester”, published on 03/08/2022, UEH installed additional hot and warm drinking water machines with integrated RO filtration on the floors of the dormitories. The machines are provided as an amenity for the regular daily needs of resident learners.
Additional evidence from the equipment list: Sheet “1. Drinking water machines” of the 2026 maintenance file lists 13 DAD water purifiers at the two dormitories in Ho Chi Minh City, including 6 machines at the 135 Tran Hung Dao Dormitory and 7 machines at the 43–45 Nguyen Chi Thanh Dormitory. The machines have installation years of 2021–2022. This information clarifies the scale and locations of the equipment already invested in, but does not by itself confirm operating status or the free-supply mechanism in 2025.
Source: UEH Infrastructure Management Office (30/03/2026), “2026 Machinery and Equipment Maintenance Tender”, sheet “1. Drinking water machines”, rows 67–79. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1npFQ_pscPWUMHnnDbmW7xhc2PbE-WI4f/edit
UEH’s announcement of installing hot, warm and cool drinking water machines with integrated RO filtration technology on the dormitory floors for resident students.
Source: UEH Sustainability (03/08/2022), “Information on study and living support at UEH in the new semester”, section “UEH dormitories and Shuttle Bus service – Friendly amenities supporting learners’ daily life”. https://future.ueh.edu.vn/sdgs/xoa-ngheo/thong-tin-ve-ho-tro-hoc-tap-sinh-hoat-tai-ueh-trong-hoc-ky-moi/?p=29438
Drinking water machines at the UEH Mekong dormitory
At UEH Mekong, the drinking water system continues to be integrated into the facilities serving the daily needs of resident learners.
According to the article “UEH Vinh Long Campus: A modern, innovative space for learners”, published on 20/06/2024, the dormitory was renovated and equipped with amenities for students, including washing machines, dryers, and a drinking water and hot water system.
Facility images published with the article show water purifiers and drinking water dispensers placed in the dormitory’s amenity area. This is visual evidence that UEH Mekong has installed water supply equipment for learners, helping extend the reach of drinking water infrastructure across the UEH system.
Water purifiers and drinking water dispensers located in the shared amenity area of the UEH Mekong dormitory, alongside washing machines and dryers.
Source: UEH (20/06/2024), “UEH Vinh Long Campus: A modern, innovative space for learners”, section “Spacious hotel and dormitory”. https://www.ueh.edu.vn/ueh-mekong/cuoc-song-ueh-mekong/ueh-phan-hieu-vinh-long-khong-gian-doi-moi-sang-tao-va-hien-dai-danh-cho-nguoi-hoc-71982
Rules and management of drinking water machine use in dormitories
In addition to providing the infrastructure, UEH manages the use of drinking water equipment in the dormitories through the “Drinking Water Dispenser Usage Regulations”, published by the unit in charge of student care.
The regulations guide students to use the equipment for its intended purpose, keep it clean and use water sensibly, helping protect the shared drinking water machines and maintain the conditions serving resident life.
The publication of the drinking water dispenser regulations shows that UEH combines providing amenities with management, raising users’ awareness and responsibility in using the system.
Drinking water dispenser usage regulations at UEH dormitories, guiding the use and care of drinking water equipment serving students.
Source: UEH Student Affairs Office, “Drinking Water Dispenser Usage Regulations”. https://dsa.ueh.edu.vn/quy-dinh-noi-tru-tai-ueh/drinking-water-dispenser-regulations/
Maintaining the drinking water machine system in 2025
To help keep the drinking water machine system operating, UEH manages and selects providers of equipment maintenance and servicing.
On 14/07/2025, UEH issued Decision No. 886/QĐ-ĐHKT-TCKHĐT approving the results of the online contractor selection for the package of maintenance and servicing of drinking water machines, ventilation fans, washing machines, dryers and repair supplies.
Before that, the dossier for the drinking water machine maintenance service went through the steps of approving the tender documents, requesting appraisal and selecting the contractor. The 2025 documents show UEH arranged the procurement of services to maintain and service this group of equipment, which includes drinking water machines.
This is supporting evidence of the management and maintenance of the drinking water infrastructure, in addition to the actual photos and published information on the free water supply system on campus.
Decision approving the contractor selection results for the package of maintenance and servicing of drinking water machines and related equipment in 2025.
Source: UEH Finance – Investment Planning Office (14/07/2025), Decision No. 886/QĐ-ĐHKT-TCKHĐT, List of internal documents 2025. https://tckt.ueh.edu.vn/VanBan/?m=185&year=2025
Conclusion
In 2025, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City continued to maintain its free drinking water model, building on the machines and water stations in its learning areas, work areas and dormitories. Providing drinking water in many shared spaces enables learners and staff to meet their daily drinking water needs, while encouraging the use of personal bottles and reducing dependence on single-use plastic bottles.
Alongside the installed system, the 2025 equipment maintenance documents and the drinking water dispenser regulations help show the effort to maintain and manage the system serving the UEH community.
Through this, UEH continues to fulfil its commitment to ensuring free access to drinking water, helping build a convenient and sustainable university environment and contributing to SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation.