This year the award was given to 18 individuals, one community and 31 organisations.

“My award is with personal category for my contribution for environment management in the last few years, including my recent work at Mekong River Commission Secretariat as Environment Programme Coordiantor and founded and managed the Viet Nam Environment Network in the last 9 years voluntarily,” Nguyen said.

The Award Ceremony was held on 5^th June 2013 on the occasion to celebrate the World Environment Day in the World Heritage city of Hue.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and Minister for Natural Resources and Environment attended and presented awards.

“I have donated all money from this award to contribute for installing a clean water system for semi-boarding school for ethnic minority students at the Hoang Thu Pho Primary School at mountainous district of Bac Ha, Lao Cai province.”

In 2011, Nguyen was awarded Australian Alumni Award for sustainable community development for his work in sustainable land management to combat desertification in the context of climate change in Viet Nam.