On Ngo Duc Ke Street young people chug down beverages, seemingly oblivious to the litter all around them.
Trash cans on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street and neighboring streets are overflowing with trash. Various types of refuse were dumped on the streets and under trees, and blocking the manhole cover over the sewage system.
Some glow-sticks, other debris were scattered around the barricades near the countdown staging area on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street.
In addition to the plastic bottles scattered arid sidewalk, there are also a large number of shoes laying around the sidewalk. Lots of people crowd into this spot on New Year's Eve to listen to music and wait for the clock to strike midnight. Due to the large crowds, some people fainted and were given first-aid by medical personnel.
Around 300 meters away, the Bach Dang Wharf along the banks of the Saigon River is also flooded with garbage after the city's fireworks display. Garbage is mainly the tarp people spread out to sit on while eating and drinking while waiting to see the fireworks.
The pier on Bach Dang Wharf is blanketed in water bottles and plastic cups left behind by people who came to watch the fireworks. The Saigon River also became a dumping ground for a great deal of trash.
Scrap collectors take advantage of this opportunity to pick up used bottles and cans to sell to recycling centers.
Some conscientious youngsters collect garbage and put it into bags to make it easier for sanitation workers to clean up.
"Knowing that the downtown area will be littered with trash following New Year's Eve,” said Phuong Anh, 23, “our group takes the initiative to remove some of it to improve everyone's awareness of cleanliness and protect the environment.”
Tran Thi Khoa, 43, was sweeping the trash from the curb and the grass on Ham Nghi Street by herself.
"There is at least a dozen times as much trash today as there usually is," she said. "Usually I work till 1 a.m., but I think I will have to work until practically morning to finish cleaning."
