Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung praised a group of expatriates on May 18 that helped clean a polluted canal in the city.

Hanoi Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung honours James Kendall

James Joseph Kendall, founder of Keep Hanoi Clean Group, and several other expatriates on May 15 unilaterally took it on themselves to clean a seriously polluted canal on Nguyen Khang Street.

Chung presented Kendall with a city badge to recognise his effort and contribution to the city. Kendall was also invited to the city's tree planting ceremony on June 5 to welcome World Environment Day. Chung said the expats had helped to raise people's awareness about their surrounding environment.

Chung said they had started a movement to keep the city clean and hoped the group would continue helping to improve the capital's environment. Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union was asked to work with Kendall's group.

Kendall, who has been in Vietnam since 2013 also wants to open educational programmes to teach children about the environment.