Dr Le Xuan Sinh from Hai Phong-based Institute of Marine Environment and Resources said that green economies helped improve living standards and social equality as well as reducing environmental risks and ecological deficiencies.
Sinh said that people living on islands often faced disadvantages in economic conditions, healthcare, education and other public services.
He said economic activities were usually spontaneous and did not follow any sustainable models. This resulted in poor quality of living standards or islanders were vulnerable to risks of natural disasters and diseases.
“The disadvantages are why there is migration to the mainland. Islands often cannot attract people to live there,” Sinh said.
“Once green economic models are implemented, islanders could better their livelihood and their resilience to climate-change impacts," Sinh said.
"Or at least, they could manage by themselves for a time if the islands are isolated because of natural disasters,” Sinh said.
He said that it was necessary to develop green economy models accompanied by green production and services. Environmental conservation and protection would also ensure bio-diversity in order to have sustainable development.
In addition, aquaculture production must use advanced environmentally friendly technologies while eco-tourism should be made a key industry.
For example, Viet Hai island commune on the east of Cat Hai island district, is the third largest island in Vietnam. There are 88 families or 270 people living on the island, but there is no market. Agricultural production is small and spontaneous, unable to provide enough food for islanders. Most of the food is from the mainland.
Sinh said that the island commune should concentrate on community tourism or home-stay accommodation to take advantage of its location in Cat Ba Nature Reserve. Organic agriculture was another option.
Meanwhile, he said Nhon Chau island commune in the central province of Binh Thuan should take advantages of its beautiful beaches. Eco tourism with sight seeing, diving and fishing would attract visitors. High-tech agriculture should be applied to provide enough food to islanders and visitors as 90 percent of soil on the island is unproductive.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Vietnam has more than 3,000 islands and islets with a total area of about 1,700 sq.km. Of those, three islands have more than 100 sq.km each, including Phu Quoc island in southern Kien Giang province, Cai Bau island in Quang Ninh province and
Cat Ba island in Hai Phong city. Twenty three islands have an area of 10 sq.km, 82 islands have 1 sq.km each. About 1,400 islets have not been named.
Groups of islands are said to have potential to become marine economic hubs and logistic centres for on-sea activities, including fishing or tourism. The islands together can create strategic areas to boost socio-economic development, ensure national defence and security.
Island economies could become “pillars for development” spreading development to surrounding areas. In addition to values of landscapes, the marine resources around the islands are crucial to fishing industry and sea tourism.
While more than 200 islands and islets in the country are said to be livable, just 66 have residential areas with populations in 2010 of about 240,000 people.
There are another 2,800 islands and islets unsuitable for human daily life or production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
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