摘要
Raising public awareness and participation of the local communities in the environmental protection has become a major objective of sound development programs. In the framework of the canal environmental protection program of Ho Chi Minh City, we had developed 32 public awareness meetings for 14 districts with about 2,726 participants from year 2012 to 2015. The program had been organized in various forms such as training, brochure, leaflet, poster, propaganda gifts, face-to-face discussion, study visits, survey questionnaire. The results of the program can add substantial value to the canal environmental protection program of the city. The information gained through public comments can help identify key issues and solutions for the authorities as district and city levels. It was determined that most important outcomes from the public participation were educating the public, incorporating public values, assumptions and preferences into decision making process.