On 28 June 2024, at the 7th Session, the 15th National Assembly voted to pass Resolution No. 139/2024/QH15 on "National marine spatial planning for the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision towards 2050"; in which, the orientation of spatial arrangement for activities in coastal land and waters includes the following contents:

Marine economy plays a crucial role in the national economy (An illustrative photo)

(1). Environmental protection, management, protection and development of coastal protection forests, biodiversity conservation; (2). Develop infrastructure, including transportation networks in a synchronous and modern manner in order to serve multiple purposes, especially a system of expressways and coastal roads which connect major economic centers of Vietnam, economic zones, industrial parks and urban areas with coastal economic zones and bonded warehouses at sea, and a closed logistics chain from production, circulation, delivery, import, export, distribution of goods to strategic connection between the North and the South, East - West, among regions in Vietnam and between Vietnam and the world,…; (3). Preservation of cultural heritage and development of marine tourism and sports areas; focus on investment in construction of cultural and religious works, preservation, repair and restoration of special national relic sites and world heritage sites, etc. so as to serve education about traditional culture and socio-economic development; combine conservation and development of cultural heritage with the development of tourism and sports in waters and islands; (4). Maritime economy development; prioritise the development of systems of seaports, inland waterway ports and logistics services; develop marine safety and maritime services; (5). Exploration, exploitation, and processing of oil and gas and other marine mineral resources; (6). Develop marine aquaculture towards production of commodities; encourage the development of industrial-scale aquaculture in open waters in conformity with each marine zone and resilience of the marine ecosystem,…; (7). Develop the coastal industry in a manner that is appropriate to natural conditions and resources, carrying capacity of environment and resilience of ecosystems, degree of vulnerability of marine zones, coastal zones, islands and archipelagos and capacity for integration in supply chains so as to make the best use of natural resources of each region; (8). Focus on construction and development of coastal economic zones and eco-industrial parks towards a circular, green and low-carbon, highly resilient and sustainable economy; connect international commodity supply chains; optimise exploitation and use of resources and develop marine economic sectors that have high added value,…; (9). Synchronously and reasonably develop and diversify energy sources, including promotion and stimulation of investment in production and development of offshore wind power, hydrogen industry, solar power and other forms of renewable energy in potential coastal zones and islands, develop new marine economic sectors, including high-tech industry and marine data access industry, produce pharmaceuticals from marine organisms, develop maritime medicine, new materials and marine chemical industry,…; (10). Develop a system of coastal urban centres into sea-oriented centres, establish modern and large-scale industrial-agricultural complexes in some key agricultural areas in coastal zones, develop new rural models in a sustainable direction and create new livelihoods in coastal zones, especially those surrounding economic zones, industrial parks and resorts; (11). Conduct land reclamation in some zones to provide additional space and land for socio-economic development in coastal provinces and central-affiliated cities without degradation or decline of natural resources, biodiversity and ecosystems, and preservation of cultural and historical values; (12). Maintenance of national defence, security, foreign affairs and international cooperation, develop Vietnam into a country that is recognised to be powerful in terms of its sea and be enriched by its sea.

Pham Binh