By Ramla Khalidi, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam, and Hilde Solbakken, Ambassador of Norway to Viet Nam.

This article was first published in the special edition "Ocean Aspiration" of Viet Nam Agriculture and Nature news.

Viet Nam's 3,200-kilometer coastline is more than just a beautiful boundary; it is the lifeblood of the nation. Today, the country stands at a pivotal juncture in its maritime history. As Party General Secretary and State President To Lam recently emphasized “green development, environmental protection, ocean conservation, and climate change adaptation must become a pillar of the country’s development model in the new era.”

His vision echoes a profound truth: true prosperity cannot come at the cost of the natural environment. Yet, with ambitious economic growth targets on the horizon, Viet Nam’s oceans are facing unprecedented pressure. This raises a critical question: how can the country accelerate economic growth while safeguarding its marine resources and building resilience against climate change.

We are seeing these challenges play out. Ambitious plans for offshore wind energy, oil and gas exploration, commercial fisheries, and maritime shipping are increasingly competing for the same ocean space. Without a clear plan, we risk damaging delicate marine ecosystems, discouraging investment and slowing transition towards a truly sustainable blue economy. Currently, less than one per cent of the country’s marine space is designated as a Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), a figure that falls well below the national target of 6%. 

Leveraging Global Best Practice and Strategic Partnerships 

To navigate these complex challenges, collaboration is key. Global experience offers evidence of the benefits of government, businesses, scientists and local communities working together.   Norway’s integrated ocean management model is one example of how inclusive, science-based, multi-stakeholder coordination can be a bedrock of sustainable blue growth.

The Norway-Viet Nam Green Strategic Partnership, signed on 14 April 2026, exemplifies this collaborative approach. Through the partnership, Viet Nam is tapping into Norway’s deep expertise through various institutions such as the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), and the Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET) to tailor advanced ocean governance practices to its unique local context. 

Norway’s extensive experience in offshore energy, green maritime transitions, and high-tech aquaculture offer valuable lessons as Viet Nam develops its own blue economy. At the same time, Viet Nam is leveraging the partnership to contribute its own innovations through South-South and triangular cooperation, sharing experiences with other developing countries and adapting internationally recognized Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) processes to local realities.

Building the Foundation for Sustainable Ocean Governance 

Over the past four years, Viet Nam has made significant progress in strengthening the foundations of sustainable marine management. 

With the technical and strategic support of a UNDP project on Marine Spatial Planning supported by the Government of Norway, Viet Nam laid the foundations for sustainable ocean planning. The recent approval by the National Assembly of the National Marine Spatial Plan followed by the Government’s adoption of the Coastal Master Plan, are game changers, providing the country’s first comprehensive legal framework for balancing ocean conservation with economic development. 

The Project also supported national and provincial stakeholders in fostering a shared, cross-sectoral understanding of integrated ocean governance through initiatives such as the Blue Economy 2.0 strategy, the Provincial Blue Economy Index (PBEI), and the publication of "12 Lessons Drawn from Viet Nam's Marine Spatial Planning Process."

Pilot initiatives in coastal provinces like Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Khanh Hoa are already proving that sustainable ocean management works. Marine zoning plans for Nha Trang Bay and the Nha Trang MPA, coral transplantation activities in Bach Long Vy and the mapping of innovative Blue Business Models (BBMs) are helping revive coral reefs and supporting the launch of new blue businesses. Hundreds of provincial officials have been trained, and a new network of practitioners is equipped to carry this work forward.

From Planning to Action 

Building on these achievements, the Government of Norway has committed a further NOK 12 million (over USD 1.2 million) to support a second phase of the project focused on implementation -- turning plans into action. Over the next three years, from 2026 to 2029, we will focus on supporting Viet Nam‘s efforts to address institutional, spatial, and financial barriers that stand in the way of a sustainable blue transition, through three key steps.

First, we will support local authorities across the 21 coastal provinces accelerating MSP implementation. This includes translating national zoning guidelines into localized planning, while strengthening capacity. Particular attention will be given to expanding marine conservation efforts and using the recently launched index, PBEI, to help ensure that economic development and environmental sustainability advance together.

Second, we will create multi-sectoral Marine Coordination Platforms at both the national and provincial levels. These platforms will bring together representatives of government agencies, academia and marine sectors like fisheries, oil and gas operators, maritime logistics representatives, and renewable energy developers to jointly plan the use of marine space. By simulating multi-use zoning scenarios through advanced GIS modeling and sharing inter-ministerial datasets, the coordination platforms will help shift discussions around ocean governance from competing for space to collaborating on a harmonized, unified marine vision.

And third, we will work to unlock private investment. Public budgets alone cannot fund Viet Nam’s blue economy ambitions. The project will support stronger public-private partnership, improved marine data sharing, and the development of investment-ready marine areas that can attract financing for offshore wind, sustainable aquaculture and other blue economy sectors. We hope to help unlock innovative financing mechanisms through new tools like blue bonds and blue carbon markets, creating new opportunities to invest in ocean sustainability.

The launch of this new phase of our project represents a mutual recommitment to transforming Viet Nam’s marine spaces into resilient, sustainable engines of economic growth. Balancing rapid development with marine conservation is not easy. As Party General Secretary and State President To Lam has emphasized, the country needs “a modern, unified, integrated model of marine governance, based on data and the National Marine Spatial Plan”. The work underway today is helping to turn that vision into reality.  

With bold national leadership, international expertise, and private sector innovation, Viet Nam has a unique opportunity to demonstrate that economic transformation and environmental protection can go hand in hand. 

The true measure of Viet Nam's "Ocean Aspiration" will ultimately be the legacy we leave behind: a vibrant, healthy ocean that powers prosperity for generations to come./.