Viet Nam saved 500,000 kWh of power during ‘Earth Hour 2010', according to the National Electricity Dispatching Centre. The result reflected the results of a mass switch off between 8.30pm and 9.30pm yesterday.
Ha Noi was among over 20 cities and provinces nationwide that responded to Earth Hour with a message of ‘Small action for big change'.
At 20.30pm, all the lights were turned off at the Opera House and public buildings nearby such as the Tortoise Tower, The Huc Bridge, Ngoc Son Temple, Ly Thai To Garden, the Hilton Opera Hotel and the headquarters of the Ha Noi Municipal People's Committee, People's Council and City Party Committee.
Many households, organisations and enterprises across the capital city also participated in Earth Hour to mitigate climate change in Viet Nam.
Elsewhere, 29 districts and towns also turned off their lights in response to the programme.
HCM City saved 67,000 kWh of power during this year's Earth Hour and as much as 140,000 kWh was saved throughout the country last year, according to the National Electricity Dispatching Centre.
Earth Hour started in Sydney, Australia, and became a global campaign in 2007. Last year over 1 billion people in over 4000 cities and towns in 88 countries took part in the event.
In HCM City, performance artists and poets collaborated in unprecedented shows to mark Earth Hour and to celebrate Mother Earth at three locations across the city last Saturday.
Staged by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Sai Gon Media Company, the shows were separated into two categories: ‘Poetry and the Earth' and ‘Theatre and the Earth'.
‘Poetry and the Earth' was held in District 1's History Museum, attracting lots of poetry fans who mixed with around 60 poets, including Nguyen Duy, Ton Nu Hi Khuong, Pham Sy Sau, Bui Chi Vinh and Nguyen Thai Duong among others.
Poets recited immortal poems of love, nature and peace during Earth Hour by candle light.
‘Theatre and the Earth' took place in front of District 1's Hung Kings' Temple where actors performed a one-hour drama entitled ‘Poetry Queen' in both cai luong (reformed theatre) and ca tru singing and at District 3's Small Theatre where the drama ‘Nostalgic Stream' was staged.
Both dramas were performed without electric lights or any other electrical equipment including microphones.
The shows also marked World Theatre Day.