(VOV) – Around 700,000 kwh of electricity is expected to be saved in this year’s Earth Hour.

At a press conference held on Monday in Hanoi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Vietnam Electricity or EVN said 2013 Earth Hour event will take place from 8.30 to 9.30 p.m in Hanoi on March 23. Government agencies, businesses, individuals and communities will switch off their lights and unnecessary electrical appliances for this one hour. There are also many communication activities for this event including a short film competition, collecting fingerprints to show personal commitment to energy saving and fighting climate change, and a cycling rally. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang said: "Vietnam is a country that consumes a large amount of energy. The Earth  Hour campaign aims to raise the awareness of individuals, households and enterprises about their responsibility to save energy. The Earth Hour campaign saved 400,000 kwh of electricity in 2011 and around 540,000 kwh in 2012".

Earth Hour was initiated by the World Wildlife Fund in 2007 to raise community awareness of the need to take action against climate change.