National Marine Spatial Planning: Opportunity for blue economy

Development orientation for six key marine economic sectors

According to Mr. Pham Van Lam, Deputy Head of the Seas and Islands Use Management Division under the Viet Nam Agency of Seas and Islands, the National Marine Spatial Planning for the 2021–2030 period, with a vision to 2050, not only delineates zones for exploitation but also shapes an integrated management method with the coordination across sectors and government levels. Issued by the Government, the National Marine Spatial Planning aims to allocate and manage marine space effectively, reduce conflicts in marine space use, and move toward sustainable development in economic, social, environmental, scientific-technological, and national defense-security aspects.

According to Dr. Pham Van Lam, the planning identifies six key marine economic sectors regarded as the "pillars" of the blue marine economy for the 2021–2030 period.

“Research and development of the carbon capture and storage industry in offshore sedimentary basins and geological structures” is one of the 13 nationally significant projects expected to be prioritized for implementation from now until 2030.

These sectors include marine tourism and services based on the advantages of tourism resources, ecological and cultural diversity in coastal areas; maritime economy; expanding oil and gas exploration and production, moving toward stopping small-scale, outdated, operations to minimize pollution and resource depletion; developing the fisheries economy in a green, circular, and low-carbon direction associated with marine conservation and maritime culture; prioritizing coastal industries toward high technology and foundational, circular, green, low-carbon technologies; promoting offshore wind power, solar energy, hydrogen industry, and technologies for carbon capture and storage beneath the seabed.

The planning encourages and mobilizes public participation, businesses, and authorities at all levels in implementing the National Marine Spatial Planning, with a priority on promoting the development of the marine economy in a green, circular, low-carbon, highly resilient direction.

Synchronous implementation

To ensure the effective execution of the planning, on February 27, 2025, the Government issued Resolution No. 37/NQ-CP, which sets out a clear task assignment for ministries, sectors, and coastal localities. Accordingly, the People’s Committees of coastal provinces and centrally governed cities must take the lead in formulating and adjusting provincial plans, sectoral plans, and urban and rural development plans in line with the National Marine Spatial Plan. Many coastal localities have promptly begun implementation.

Ha Tinh is a locality with enormous potential for a blue ocean economy, possessing a 137-kilometer coastline, two major river estuaries, the Vung Ang Economic Zone, and a system of seaports, tourist sites, and rich aquaculture areas. The Ha Tinh Provincial People’s Committee has assigned the Department of Agriculture and Environment to take charge of communication and training for residents and businesses while reviewing the current status of coastal exploitation and proposing priority areas for developing the blue marine economy and restoring coastal ecosystems.

Meanwhile, Khanh Hoa is simultaneously reviewing, adjusting, and newly implementing a series of planning projects. The province is focusing on post-merger development space, orienting toward high-quality coastal urban and tourism development, logistics, and high-tech industries, while enhancing the integration between technical and social infrastructure.

"The planning adjustments will ensure the optimal utilization of the province’s potential and distinct advantages in this new phase of development," emphasized Mr. Nguyen Khac Toan, Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee.

The National Marine Spatial Planning, approved by the National Assembly in June last year, encompasses viewpoints, visions, major tasks, and breakthrough areas for the development of marine economic sectors, as well as a list of key projects arranged in order of priority through 2030, with a vision to 2050.

This is a comprehensive, inclusive, inter-sectoral, dynamic, and open framework that concretizes the guidelines of the Party and laws of the State on the management, exploitation, and use of marine space in order to turn Viet Nam into a strong coastal nation in line with the Resolution of the 13^th National Party Congress, the 10-year Socio-economic Development Strategy for 2021-2030, and Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW dated October 22, 2018, adopted at the 8^th Plenum of the 12^th Party Central Committee on Viet Nam's Sustainable Marine Economy Development Strategy through 2030, with a vision to 2045.