Laws and Regulations

Action Plans and Roadmaps

A. National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management

In 2018, Viet Nam adopted Decision No. 491/QD-TTg approving the National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management to 2025, with a vision to 2050. The Strategy remains an important sectoral policy document, but it should now be read together with the Law on Environmental Protection 2020, Decision No. 450/QD-TTg on the National Environmental Protection Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050,[MGH1] and Decision No. 687/QD-TTg on the Scheme for Circular Economy Development in Viet Nam. Table 1 summarizes the principal waste-related targets and the long-term 2050 end-state.

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 and environmentally sound treatment of urban municipal solid waste	90%	Advanced environmentally sound treatment for all generated waste
Reuse, recycling, energy recovery or composting of collected urban municipal solid waste	85%	Maximized
Collection and treatment of urban construction and demolition waste	90%	All generated waste collected and treated
Reuse and recycling of urban construction and demolition waste	60%	Maximized
Environmentally friendly plastic bags used at commercial centres and supermarkets for daily-life purposes	100%	Non-biodegradable plastic bags phased out
Hazardous solid waste generated by households and individuals collected, transported and treated in compliance with environmental requirements	85%	Full compliance maintained
Ordinary industrial solid waste generated at production, business and service establishments, and craft villages, collected, reused, recycled and treated	100%	Full compliance maintained
Ash, slag and gypsum from power plants and fertilizer or chemical plants reused, recycled or treated as inputs or materials	80%	Maximized
Solid waste generated in concentrated rural residential areas collected, stored, transported, self-treated or centrally treated in accordance with environmental requirements	80%	Suitable class="table table-striped" environmentally sound treatment nationwide
Medical solid waste at healthcare facilities segregated, collected, stored, transported and treated in accordance with regulations	100%	Full compliance maintained

Source:  (Quyết định số 491/QĐ-TTg); Note: the 2050 column reflects the Strategy's long-term end-state rather than row-by-row numerical targets.

B. 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 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 Agriculture and Environment; Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry Science and Technology Other relevant ministries Ministerial-level agencies Coastal Local Authorities
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 Agriculture and Environment Other relevant ministries and 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 Agriculture and Environment Ministry of Construction Ministry of Industry and Trade Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Other relevant ministries and local authorities
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 Agriculture and Environment Ministry of Foreign Affairs Coastal localities Other relevant ministries and partners
Consistent and effective investigation and development of marine plastic litter management system	Develop and operate an integrated database and monitoring system on marine plastic litter; conduct periodic surveys, inventories and reporting; strengthen inter-agency coordination, supervision and enforcement.	Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Ministry of Construction People’s Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run coastal cities Other relevant ministries

The objectives above are further broken down into three major solutions (Table 4).

Table 4. 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	Integrated surveys, inventories, databases, periodic monitoring and reporting, together with stronger inter-agency coordination and supervision.

C. 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 5 shows the objectives of the action plan related to waste or plastic waste management.

Table 5. 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

D. Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam

Table 6. 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%

E. National Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030

Table 7. 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.

Updated as of 4 March 2026

Action Plans and Roadmaps

A. 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 and environmentally sound treatment of urban municipal solid waste	90%	Advanced environmentally sound treatment for all generated waste
Reuse, recycling, energy recovery or composting of collected urban municipal solid waste	85%	Maximized
Collection and treatment of urban construction and demolition waste	90%	All generated waste collected and treated
Reuse and recycling of urban construction and demolition waste	60%	Maximized
Environmentally friendly plastic bags used at commercial centres and supermarkets for daily-life purposes	100%	Non-biodegradable plastic bags phased out
Hazardous solid waste generated by households and individuals collected, transported and treated in compliance with environmental requirements	85%	Full compliance maintained
Ordinary industrial solid waste generated at production, business and service establishments, and craft villages, collected, reused, recycled and treated	100%	Full compliance maintained
Ash, slag and gypsum from power plants and fertilizer or chemical plants reused, recycled or treated as inputs or materials	80%	Maximized
Solid waste generated in concentrated rural residential areas collected, stored, transported, self-treated or centrally treated in accordance with environmental requirements	80%	Suitable class="table table-striped" environmentally sound treatment nationwide
Medical solid waste at healthcare facilities segregated, collected, stored, transported and treated in accordance with regulations	100%	Full compliance maintained

Source:  (Quyết định số 491/QĐ-TTg); Note: the 2050 column reflects the Strategy's long-term end-state rather than row-by-row numerical targets.

B. 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 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 Agriculture and Environment; Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry Science and Technology Other relevant ministries Ministerial-level agencies Coastal Local Authorities
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 Agriculture and Environment Other relevant ministries and 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 Agriculture and Environment Ministry of Construction Ministry of Industry and Trade Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Other relevant ministries and local authorities
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 Agriculture and Environment Ministry of Foreign Affairs Coastal localities Other relevant ministries and partners
Consistent and effective investigation and development of marine plastic litter management system	Develop and operate an integrated database and monitoring system on marine plastic litter; conduct periodic surveys, inventories and reporting; strengthen inter-agency coordination, supervision and enforcement.	Ministry of Agriculture and Environment Ministry of Construction People’s Committees of coastal provinces and centrally run coastal cities Other relevant ministries

The objectives above are further broken down into three major solutions (Table 4).

Table 4. 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	Integrated surveys, inventories, databases, periodic monitoring and reporting, together with stronger inter-agency coordination and supervision.

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

Table 5. 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

D. Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam

Table 6. 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%

E. National Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030

Table 7. 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.

Updated as of 4 March 2026

Laws and Regulations

Action Plans and Roadmaps

A. National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management

B. National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030

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

D. Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam

E. National Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030

Action Plans and Roadmaps

A. National Strategy on Integrated Solid Waste Management

B. National Action Plan for Management of Marine Plastic Litter by 2030

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

D. Scheme on Strengthening Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam

E. National Green Growth Strategy 2021-2030

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