Laws and Regulations

Action Plans and Roadmaps

National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management

In 2018, Viet Nam adopted  the National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management (to 2025, with a Vision to 2050). Its main objective is to strengthen the collection, reuse, recycling, and management of waste using progressive technology and to minimize the use of landfills by 2050. The table below summarizes the strategy’s targets.

Table 1. Targets of the National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management to 2025, with a Vision to 2050

Objective	By 2025	By 2050
Collection rate of household waste	90%	100%
Recycling rate of household waste	85%	100%
Collection rate of construction and demolition waste in urban areas	90%	100%
Recycling rate of construction and demolition waste in urban areas	60%	100%
Reduction rate of plastic bag use in supermarkets	100%	100%
Implementation rate of waste separation and recycling facilities at the municipal level	80%	100%
Collection rate of non-hazardous industrial waste	100%	100%
Reuse and recycling rate of non-hazardous industrial waste	100%	100%
Collection rate of solid waste from households in rural areas	80%	90%
Collection rate of solid waste from craft villages	100%	100%

Source:  (Quyết định số 491/QĐ-TTg)

National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030

In the case of marine plastic pollution, the Government of Viet Nam in 2020 launched the  National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030. The plan’s objectives are divided into two main periods, 2025 and 2030 (Table 2).

Table 2. Objectives of the National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Debris Management through 2030

Objective	By 2025	By 2030
Plastic waste reduction in the sea and the ocean	50%	75%
Collection of lost or discarded fishing gear	80%	100%
Removal of single-use plastic products in coastal tourist destinations, accommodations, and services	80%	100%
Removal of plastic waste in marine protected areas	80%	100%
Coverage expansion of annual monitoring and periodical monitoring of marine plastic debris	Conducted in 5 main rivers	Conducted in 11 main rivers

The objectives above are broken down into three major solutions (Table 3).

Table 3. Solutions of the National Action Plan’s Objectives

Solutions	Tasks	Parties in charge
Education and behavioural change	Development of communication programmes about the negative impacts of single-use plastic products Development of communication programmes about the negative impacts of single-use plastic products Rewarding parties that provide good examples to reduce plastic waste Training to promote the habit of using less single-use plastic products Promotion of communication with relevant parties to encourage reuse, recycling, and circular economy	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Ministry of Information and Communications Other relevant ministries Ministerial-level agencies Governmental agencies Press agencies
Collection, separation, storage, transportation, and management of plastic waste from sea-based activities	Organisation of campaigns and movements to collect and clean up wastes in beaches Mobilisation of people to strengthen the stock-taking of marine plastic debris based on a national database on waste sources Provision of facilities and support for parties that conduct efforts to reduce marine plastic debris	People’s committees of coastal provinces Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Other relevant stakeholders
Plastic waste control from source	Establishment of integrated survey, inventory-taking, separation assessment of land-based, ocean-based, and island-based marine plastic debris Examination of regulations on plastic waste collection and treatment Prevention of disposal and loss of fishing gear as well as implementation of penalty tools for violators of regulations	Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ministry of Transport Ministry of Industry and Trade Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Other relevant ministries
International cooperation in research, application, development, and technology transfer of marine plastic debris treatment	Participation in international communities, such as ASEAN and East Asian Seas countries in tackling marine plastic debris issue. Cooperation with international organisations on issues related to marine plastic debris Provision of technical support and investment to reduce marine plastic debris Promotion of research and development on marine plastic debris treatment and technologies Operation of the centre for international marine plastic litter and management of marine plastic debris database Development of research projects as scientific and practical foundations on marine plastic debris Establishment of remote sensing system to control marine plastic debris	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Coastal localities Ministry of Foreign Affairs People’s committees of coastal provinces Other relevant ministries
Consistent and effective investigation and development of marine plastic litter management system		The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development The Ministry of Transport Other relevant ministries People’s Committees of coastal provinces

The objectives above are further broken down into three major solutions (Table 3).

Table 3. Solutions for the National Action Plan’s Objectives

Solutions	Tasks
Education and behavioural change	Development of communication programmes about the negative impacts of single-use plastic products Rewarding parties that provide good examples to reduce plastic waste Training to promote the habit of using less single-use plastic products Promotion of communication with relevant parties to encourage reuse, recycling, and circular economy
Collection, separation, storage, transportation, and management of plastic waste from sea-based activities	Organisation of campaigns and movements to collect and clean up wastes in beaches Mobilisation of people to strengthen the stock-taking of marine plastic debris based on a national database on waste sources Provision of facilities and support for parties that conduct efforts to reduce marine plastic debris
Plastic waste control from source	Establishment of integrated survey, inventory-taking, separation assessment of land-based, ocean-based, and island-based marine plastic debris Examination of regulations on plastic waste collection and treatment Prevention of disposal and loss of fishing gear as well as implementation of penalty tools for violators of regulations
International cooperation in research, application, development, and technology transfer of marine plastic debris treatment	Participation in international communities, such as ASEAN and East Asian seas countries in tackling marine plastic debris issue. Cooperation with international organisations on issues related to marine plastic debris Provision of technical support and investment to reduce marine plastic debris Promotion of research and development on marine plastic debris treatment and technologies Operation of the centre for international marine plastic litter and management of marine plastic debris database Development of research projects as scientific and practical foundations on marine plastic debris Establishment of remote sensing system to control marine plastic debris
Consistent and effective investigation and development of marine plastic litter management system

National Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (2021-2030)

In 2020, the Government of Viet Nam launched the National Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (2021–2030). Table 4 shows the objectives of the action plan related to waste or plastic waste management.

Table 4. Objectives of the National Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (2021–2030)

2021–2025	By 2030
Develop legal policy for sustainable consumption and production	Enforce the implementation of sustainable consumption and production policies
5%–8% reduction of used materials and resources for production process	7%–10% reduction of used materials and resources for production process
70% of industrial parks, clusters, and trade villages encourage awareness raising on sustainable consumption and production	100% of industrial parks, clusters, and trade villages encourage awareness raising on sustainable consumption and production
80% of provinces and cities promote sustainable lifestyle and consumption	100% of provinces and cities promote sustainable lifestyle and consumption
85% of supermarkets and commercial centres promote the distribution and the use of eco-friendly packaging	100% of supermarkets and commercial centres use eco-friendly packaging

Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam

Table 5. Objectives of the Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam (Decision No. 1316/QD-TTg dated July 22, 2021)

Key target	By 2025
Use environmentally friendly plastic bags and packaging at commercial centers and supermarkets for daily-life purposes, replacing non-biodegradable plastic bags.	100%
Rate of generated plastic waste Recycling and treatment	85%
Reduction plastic waste in the sea and ocean.	50%
Rate of tourist areas and hotels do not use non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plastic products.	100%

National Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030

Table 6. Objectives of National Green Growth Strategy (NGGS) for 2021–2030, with Vision to 2050 (Approved under Decision No. 1658/QĐ-TTg dated October 1, 2021)

Strategic Goals	Key Targets by 2030
Reduce solid waste generation and enhance resource recovery through reuse, recycling, and energy conversion. Promote the classification of waste at source, especially in urban areas. Increase the recycling rate of plastic waste and reduce the use of single-use and non-biodegradable plastic products. Encourage the development and use of biodegradable, environmentally friendly packaging and materials.	100% of urban solid waste to be collected; at least 85% to be recycled or treated for energy recovery. Gradual restriction and elimination of single-use plastics in commercial centers, supermarkets, tourism areas, and public agencies. Integration of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to shift plastic waste treatment responsibility to manufacturers and importers.

Aside from the goals that have been set, the Government of Viet Nam lists some priority actions, including developing ecological, sustainable, reuse-oriented, and recycle-oriented design; producing eco-friendly products; promoting ecolabelling and certification of ecolabels; and enhancing the circular economy for waste.

Action Plans and Roadmaps

National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management

Table 1. Targets of the National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management to 2025, with a Vision to 2050

Objective	By 2025	By 2050
Collection rate of household waste	90%	100%
Recycling rate of household waste	85%	100%
Collection rate of construction and demolition waste in urban areas	90%	100%
Recycling rate of construction and demolition waste in urban areas	60%	100%
Reduction rate of plastic bag use in supermarkets	100%	100%
Implementation rate of waste separation and recycling facilities at the municipal level	80%	100%
Collection rate of non-hazardous industrial waste	100%	100%
Reuse and recycling rate of non-hazardous industrial waste	100%	100%
Collection rate of solid waste from households in rural areas	80%	90%
Collection rate of solid waste from craft villages	100%	100%

Source:  (Quyết định số 491/QĐ-TTg)

National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030

Table 2. Objectives of the National Action Plan on Marine Plastic Debris Management through 2030

Objective	By 2025	By 2030
Plastic waste reduction in the sea and the ocean	50%	75%
Collection of lost or discarded fishing gear	80%	100%
Removal of single-use plastic products in coastal tourist destinations, accommodations, and services	80%	100%
Removal of plastic waste in marine protected areas	80%	100%
Coverage expansion of annual monitoring and periodical monitoring of marine plastic debris	Conducted in 5 main rivers	Conducted in 11 main rivers

The objectives above are broken down into three major solutions (Table 3).

Table 3. Solutions of the National Action Plan’s Objectives

Solutions	Tasks	Parties in charge
Education and behavioural change	Development of communication programmes about the negative impacts of single-use plastic products Development of communication programmes about the negative impacts of single-use plastic products Rewarding parties that provide good examples to reduce plastic waste Training to promote the habit of using less single-use plastic products Promotion of communication with relevant parties to encourage reuse, recycling, and circular economy	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Ministry of Information and Communications Other relevant ministries Ministerial-level agencies Governmental agencies Press agencies
Collection, separation, storage, transportation, and management of plastic waste from sea-based activities	Organisation of campaigns and movements to collect and clean up wastes in beaches Mobilisation of people to strengthen the stock-taking of marine plastic debris based on a national database on waste sources Provision of facilities and support for parties that conduct efforts to reduce marine plastic debris	People’s committees of coastal provinces Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Other relevant stakeholders
Plastic waste control from source	Establishment of integrated survey, inventory-taking, separation assessment of land-based, ocean-based, and island-based marine plastic debris Examination of regulations on plastic waste collection and treatment Prevention of disposal and loss of fishing gear as well as implementation of penalty tools for violators of regulations	Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ministry of Transport Ministry of Industry and Trade Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Other relevant ministries
International cooperation in research, application, development, and technology transfer of marine plastic debris treatment	Participation in international communities, such as ASEAN and East Asian Seas countries in tackling marine plastic debris issue. Cooperation with international organisations on issues related to marine plastic debris Provision of technical support and investment to reduce marine plastic debris Promotion of research and development on marine plastic debris treatment and technologies Operation of the centre for international marine plastic litter and management of marine plastic debris database Development of research projects as scientific and practical foundations on marine plastic debris Establishment of remote sensing system to control marine plastic debris	Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Coastal localities Ministry of Foreign Affairs People’s committees of coastal provinces Other relevant ministries
Consistent and effective investigation and development of marine plastic litter management system		The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development The Ministry of Transport Other relevant ministries People’s Committees of coastal provinces

The objectives above are further broken down into three major solutions (Table 3).

Table 3. Solutions for the National Action Plan’s Objectives

Solutions	Tasks
Education and behavioural change	Development of communication programmes about the negative impacts of single-use plastic products Rewarding parties that provide good examples to reduce plastic waste Training to promote the habit of using less single-use plastic products Promotion of communication with relevant parties to encourage reuse, recycling, and circular economy
Collection, separation, storage, transportation, and management of plastic waste from sea-based activities	Organisation of campaigns and movements to collect and clean up wastes in beaches Mobilisation of people to strengthen the stock-taking of marine plastic debris based on a national database on waste sources Provision of facilities and support for parties that conduct efforts to reduce marine plastic debris
Plastic waste control from source	Establishment of integrated survey, inventory-taking, separation assessment of land-based, ocean-based, and island-based marine plastic debris Examination of regulations on plastic waste collection and treatment Prevention of disposal and loss of fishing gear as well as implementation of penalty tools for violators of regulations
International cooperation in research, application, development, and technology transfer of marine plastic debris treatment	Participation in international communities, such as ASEAN and East Asian seas countries in tackling marine plastic debris issue. Cooperation with international organisations on issues related to marine plastic debris Provision of technical support and investment to reduce marine plastic debris Promotion of research and development on marine plastic debris treatment and technologies Operation of the centre for international marine plastic litter and management of marine plastic debris database Development of research projects as scientific and practical foundations on marine plastic debris Establishment of remote sensing system to control marine plastic debris
Consistent and effective investigation and development of marine plastic litter management system

National Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (2021-2030)

Table 4. Objectives of the National Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (2021–2030)

2021–2025	By 2030
Develop legal policy for sustainable consumption and production	Enforce the implementation of sustainable consumption and production policies
5%–8% reduction of used materials and resources for production process	7%–10% reduction of used materials and resources for production process
70% of industrial parks, clusters, and trade villages encourage awareness raising on sustainable consumption and production	100% of industrial parks, clusters, and trade villages encourage awareness raising on sustainable consumption and production
80% of provinces and cities promote sustainable lifestyle and consumption	100% of provinces and cities promote sustainable lifestyle and consumption
85% of supermarkets and commercial centres promote the distribution and the use of eco-friendly packaging	100% of supermarkets and commercial centres use eco-friendly packaging

Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam

Table 5. Objectives of the Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam (Decision No. 1316/QD-TTg dated July 22, 2021)

Key target	By 2025
Use environmentally friendly plastic bags and packaging at commercial centers and supermarkets for daily-life purposes, replacing non-biodegradable plastic bags.	100%
Rate of generated plastic waste Recycling and treatment	85%
Reduction plastic waste in the sea and ocean.	50%
Rate of tourist areas and hotels do not use non-biodegradable plastic bags and single-use plastic products.	100%

National Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030

Table 6. Objectives of National Green Growth Strategy (NGGS) for 2021–2030, with Vision to 2050 (Approved under Decision No. 1658/QĐ-TTg dated October 1, 2021)

Strategic Goals	Key Targets by 2030
Reduce solid waste generation and enhance resource recovery through reuse, recycling, and energy conversion. Promote the classification of waste at source, especially in urban areas. Increase the recycling rate of plastic waste and reduce the use of single-use and non-biodegradable plastic products. Encourage the development and use of biodegradable, environmentally friendly packaging and materials.	100% of urban solid waste to be collected; at least 85% to be recycled or treated for energy recovery. Gradual restriction and elimination of single-use plastics in commercial centers, supermarkets, tourism areas, and public agencies. Integration of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to shift plastic waste treatment responsibility to manufacturers and importers.

Laws and Regulations

Action Plans and Roadmaps

National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management

National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030

National Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (2021-2030)

Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam

National Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030

Action Plans and Roadmaps

National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management

National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030

National Action Plan on Sustainable Consumption and Production (2021-2030)

Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam

National Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030

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