Building an Animal Justice Movement in Vietnam Starts with Harnessing the Power of Community

Recognizing that a nationwide movement starts with genuine connections made within the community, but that there is a current lack of spaces for fostering such connections all the while allowing Vietnamese people to engage more deeply with issues affecting nonhuman animals.

AAA Vietnam, along with Peace Vegan School Vietnam and other local organizers, put on a community meet-up that welcomed everyone following a vegan lifestyle in any capacity or interested in transitioning to a vegan lifestyle. 

26 community members of all ages gathered at Lê Văn Tám Park in Hồ Chí Minh City on Sunday, June 16, for a fun-filled and thought-provoking day that started with a meaningful ceremony to commemorate the trillions of nonhuman animals who lose their lives yearly for human consumption, with a moment of silence and an open discussion during which deeply personal and touching stories were shared. The ceremony was followed by a delicious and colorful vegan potluck and even a homemade toothpaste-making workshop! 

There was never a dull moment with constant lively chatter, and in fact, some organizers and attendees stayed back to chat until well into the late afternoon!

As organizers, we left the event re-energized and hopeful that more informal gatherings like this in the future will only help strengthen the bonds of community and establish firm roots for a sustainable grassroots animal justice movement in Vietnam.