Viet Nam promotes blue marine economy through international cooperation

From 2026 to 2029, Viet Nam will implement marine spatial planning, with a focus on inter-agency coordination, developing investment-ready marine areas and mobilizing green finance.

From 2026 to 2029, Viet Nam will continue working with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi to promote a marine economy through marine spatial planning and a multi-stakeholder approach.

The programme will focus on speeding up the implementation of marine spatial planning, strengthening coordination among sectors, developing investment-ready marine areas and mobilizing green finance. The Government of Norway is providing NOK 12 million, equivalent to more than US$1.2 million, in support.

One priority is to help coastal localities implement marine spatial plans by translating national-level zoning directions into local plans and strengthening their capacity to put them into practice. The Provincial Blue Economy Index (PBEI) has also been developed and piloted to help assess the progress of the marine economy.

The new phase builds on cooperation that began in 2022. From 2022 to 2026, Norway and UNDP provided technical support to Viet Nam in developing the National Marine Spatial Plan and the Master Plan for Sustainable Exploitation and Use of Coastal Resources.

The programme has produced a number of research outputs, including Blue Book 2.0, an assessment of the technical potential for offshore wind power, studies of blue economy models and international experience with land reclamation. The project has also carried out several activities at the local level, including piloting the PBEI, marine zoning in Nha Trang Bay, coral reef restoration in Bai Tu Long Bay, and developing community-based marine economy models.

Alongside marine spatial planning, international cooperation is expanding into areas related to the green transition of the marine economy. A study to assess and strengthen Viet Nam’s capacity to develop a blue economy and green shipping is being carried out with support from the Government of Norway and UNDP.

The study focuses on reviewing policies, identifying gaps and assessing the potential for green investment in the marine economy, including green shipping and green ports. Drawing on Norway’s experience in ocean governance and marine spatial planning will also provide useful references for capacity building and policymaking in Viet Nam.

Ha Duyen