Resolution on the National Marine Spatial Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050

The national marine spatial plan is framework-based, comprehensive, integrated, multi-sectoral, dynamic, open and guiding, concretizing the Party's orientations and State law on the management, exploitation and use of marine space. It ensures the integration of socio-economic development, national defense, security and foreign affairs with environmental protection and marine conservation, adapts to climate change, does not legitimize violations, and prioritizes six marine economic sectors: marine tourism and services, the maritime economy, exploitation of oil, gas and other marine minerals, aquaculture and seafood harvesting, coastal industry, and renewable energy and new marine economy sectors. Ecosystem functions, structure, resilience and carrying capacity are maintained, while coastal socio-economic development relies on integrated, inter-regional, inter-sectoral management and sustainable use of marine resources and the environment.

Overall objective to 2030: to establish the foundation for rapid and sustainable development of the marine economy, contributing to strong marine economic sectors and effective livelihoods for the people; to safeguard national defense, security, foreign affairs and international cooperation; to firmly maintain independence, sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and national interests at sea; to manage and exploit resources efficiently, protect the environment, conserve marine biodiversity and maritime cultural values; and to gradually turn Viet Nam into a strong maritime nation, prosperous from the sea.

By 2030: Marine economy - purely marine economic sectors contribute about 10% of national GDP; the economy of the 28 coastal provinces and cities reaches 65-70% of national GDP; per-capita income in coastal provinces is at least 1.2 times the national average. Culture and society - the Human Development Index (HDI) of coastal provinces and cities exceeds the national average; inhabited islands have complete basic socio-economic infrastructure. Environment and conservation - marine and coastal protected areas reach at least 6% of the natural area of national waters; pollution reduced, climate change and sea-level rise addressed effectively; net-zero emissions achieved by 2050 under the COP26 commitment. Science and technology - marine science and technology among ASEAN leaders; at least 50% of Viet Nam's sea area surveyed at a 1:500,000 map scale. Defense, security and foreign affairs - a peaceful, stable environment with independence, sovereignty and national interests at sea firmly maintained.

Article 6 sets out seven groups of solutions and resources: (1) marine spatial governance mechanisms and policies - revising the Law on Marine and Island Resources and Environment; criteria and rules for resolving overlapping areas; accelerating completion of the coastal protection corridor; modernizing marine governance toward effective competitiveness; (2) science, technology and environment - developing and applying marine science and technology; environmental standards for high-pollution-risk projects; remote sensing and GIS applications; completing the national marine and island resources and environment data system before 2030; (3) mobilizing domestic and foreign investment capital with public investment leading; (4) developing high-quality marine human resources; (5) supervising plan implementation; (6) international cooperation; and (7) communication and awareness raising. Article 7 assigns the Government and the Prime Minister to promptly issue the implementation plan, publicly disclose it, review related plans and allocate funding; the National Assembly Standing Committee, the Ethnic Council and NA committees supervise implementation, while the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and its member organizations supervise and mobilize the people.

The resolution does not publish a total investment envelope. Article 6.3 sets the capital mobilization principles: encouraging and mobilizing domestic and foreign capital for marine economic sectors; prioritizing public investment for key, large-scale, inter-regional, inter-provincial infrastructure with high spillover effects that meets essential needs and resolves bottlenecks of marine and coastal areas; leveraging public investment to attract socialized resources into investment projects; and continuing to improve the investment and business environment with healthy competition, equality and transparency to attract strategic domestic and foreign investors with advanced, ecosystem-friendly technologies.