Vietnam is advancing towards a sustainable blue economy through various strategies and policies aimed at marine resource management and plastic pollution reduction. Key initiatives include revisions to environmental laws, national action plans to cut marine plastic waste, and the establishment of a national database on marine resources. The country is also engaging in international collaborations to address plastic pollution and enhance marine spatial planning through comprehensive studies on the blue economy's potential benefits.

1. Efforts of Vietnam on Ocean Data Integrating
Towards Circular Economy/Sustainable Blue Economy
NGUYEN Thi-Thu-Thuy
Vietnam Ocean Data and Information Center,
Vietnam Agency of Seas and Islands,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Vietnam
Bali, 3-4 May 2023

2. Vietnam towards Circular Economy/ Sustainable Blue Economy
- Strategies and Policies -
• The Strategy for sustainable development of Vietnam’s marine economy to 2030, with a vision
toward 2045 (The Party’s Resolution 36-NQ/TW (2018)).
• The revised Law on Environmental Protection 2020 and the guiding Decree No. 08/2022/ND-CP.
• The Law of the Sea of Vietnam (2012); The Law on Marine and Island Resources and
Environment (2015) and the guiding Decree No. 40/2016/ND-CP.
• The National Development Plan on a Circular Economy (Decision 687/QD-TTg of the PM, 2022).
• The Strategy for sustainable exploitation and use of marine and islands resources and
environmental protection by 2030, vision to 2050 (Resolution 48/NQ-CP of the Gov, 2023)
• Many international commitments on environment and development, such as the Net-zero
Carbon Commitment at COP26.
• Development of Marine Spatial Planning.
• Development of Master planning on sustainable exploitation and use of coastal resources.
• Implementing of Key program on basic survey of marine and island resources & environment.

3. Vietnam towards Circular Economy/ Sustainable Blue Economy
- Blue Economy Scenarios -
• The intention of the scenarios is to support Viet Nam to accelerate the development of its
Blue Economy and realize the objectives of Resolution 36/NQ-TW on sustainable
development of the marine economy and protection of the Ocean of Viet Nam to 2030, with
a vision to 2045.
• The study covers the 6 key marine economic sectors of fishery, renewable energy, oil and gas
exploitation, tourism, transportation, environment and ecosystem. A baseline scenario for up
to 2030 was developed and then a blue scenario with the aim to optimize socio-economic
and environmental benefits was defined.
• The study shows that blue scenarios lead to benefits over and above the baseline scenarios
in terms of GDP for all marine sectors and also an increase in GNI per capita beyond the
baseline scenarios.
• The data, indicators and findings from the study then will contribute as one of important
inputs for the development of the Marine Spatial Planning that matters to country’s blue
economy and net-zero targets.

4. Vietnam towards Circular Economy/ Sustainable Blue Economy
- Tackling Marine Plastic Pollution -
• The revised Law on Environment Protection (LEP) 2020 (enforced in 2022) and the Nation Action
Plan (NAP) for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030 (2019).
• The NAP: reduce ocean plastic waste by 50% by 2025 (75% by 2030) and collect 50% (100% by
2030) of ALDFG (marine plastic waste management for the fishery sector from 2020 to 2030).
• Prevent the use of single-use plastics and non-biodegradable plastic bags in 80% (100% by 2030)
of coastal tourism areas, tourist attractions and accommodations, and other coastal tourism
service areas. Beach cleanup campaigns at least twice per year and make 80% (100% by 2030) of
protected marine areas free of plastic waste.
• The LEP 2020 (enforced in 2022): with the supplement of regulations on “polluter pays” principle,
required waste segregation, and created the legal basis for extended producer responsibility (EPR)
programs and a circular economy model of plastics.
• More recently, the National Development Plan on a Circular Economy has been issued in June
2022 by the PM. The plan sets goals to the year 2025 to reuse, recycle and treat 85% of plastic
waste and reduce 50% of plastic waste in the sea and ocean.

5. Vietnam towards Circular Economy/ Sustainable Blue Economy
- Tackling Marine Plastic Pollution -
• Vietnam has already engaged in numerous international activities and collaborations to address
marine plastic polution, especially the proactively preparing and participating in the development
and negotiation process for the International Legally Binding Instrument to End Plastic Pollution,
including in the marine environment (ILBI).
• Information collection and database establishment of plastic waste with a digital platform (data
lake) is developing to share information and data on plastic pollution.
• A Circular on technical guidances for investigation of marine plastic waste is under development.
• A Report on Status of Plastic Waste is developing to study on status of plastic waste quantity,
collection, recycling and treatment nationwide, with evaluation of the implementation of plastic
waste management and proposed solutions and recommendations.
• Another study is carried out to evaluate potential impacts of ILBI on Viet Nam plastic industry.

6. The National Database of Marine and Islands Resources and Environment
• The national database of marine and island
resources and environment has been
developed since 2008 and has been
managed, operated and exploited by VODIC
under VASI, MONRE.
• The national database is an intergrated
databases on marine and island resources
and environment across the country and
being standardized in accordance with
national standards and digitalized for
updating, management and exploitation via
information technology system.
• The MONRE shall take the lead, coordinate
with ministries, ministerial-level agencies,
and People’s Committees of coastal
provinces/cities in establishing the
database.
Sources: http://seaportal.vodic.vn/seaportal/srv/vi/main.home

7. The national database includes:
• Seabed topographic database;
• Vietnam maritime boundary database;
• Marine hydrometeorological database;
• Marine mineral geological database;
• Petroleum database;
• Marine Environment Database;
• Vietnam coastal and island resources database;
• Database of water resources in coastal areas
and islands of Vietnam;
• Satellite image database for investigation and
monitoring of marine environmental resources;
• Database of natural conditions and location of
marine resources and ecological wonders;
• Database of biodiversity and aquatic resources
and seafood in Vietnam's waters;
• Database serving for economic and technical
development, and national defense and
security tasks at sea and on the continental
shelf of Vietnam;
• Database of estuary and sea dike systems.
Sources: http://vodic.vn/SeaDBSearch/SearchDataMap.html#
The National Database of Marine and Islands Resources and Environment

8. The National Database of Marine and Islands Resources and Environment
- Challenges and Ways Forward -
• Updated data sources for the national database come from: Baseline Investigation Programs of
the Government; Programs and projects implemented by Vietnamese agencies and ministries
from the state budget; National and international Scientific carried out in the sea of Vietnam;
Monitoring systems of relative agencies and ministries.
• The database needs to be updated, upgraded and maintained frequently as well to be exploited
and used efficiently, which requires huge resources including technical capacity, time consume
and financial resources.
• Integrating of available data sources of marine plastic waste from digital platform (data lake) into
the national database and combine with investigation and monitoring system is an open question.
• Demand for experience sharing, networking, technical and financial support regionally and
globally.

9. Thank you for your attention!