Vietnam has over 3,260 kilometres of coastline. The country’s exclusive economic zone covers about one million square kilometers, which is three times larger than its mainland area.
On average, each square kilometer of mainland goes with approximately 4 square kilometers of territorial sea, and every 100 square kilometers of mainland has one kilometer of coastline.
Coastal localities across the country have a combined area of 208,560 square kilometers, accounting for 51 percent of the country’s total area, and a population of more than 40 million, half of the country’s total.
Vietnam also has more than 3,000 islands and islets, mostly in the Northwest of the Tonkin Gulf, some lying near the coast of the central and south central regions, and two offshore archipelagos, which are Hoang Sa (Paracel) in the central city of Da Nang, and Truong Sa (Spratly) in the south central province of Khanh Hoa.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the total area of localities bordering the sea is about 6 million hectares, including more than 2 million hectares of farming land and about 1.8 hectares of forests.
There are about 250,000 hectares of mangrove forests spanning in the southern and northern coast and few are found to grow in the central region. A total area of 40,000 hectares of lagoon area spans central areas from Thua Thien - Hue to Binh Thuan, which is a good environment for aquaculture to thrive.
Alongside, there are about 290,000 hectares of tidal flat and tens of thousands of hectares of sand area along the central coasts.
Vietnam’s sea surface is from the coast of the northern district of Mong Cai to southernmost Ha Tien province while underground water in coastal areas and islands is plentiful, estimated to provide 14 million cubic meters per day.
Especially, oil reserves in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone have been evaluated to be abundant, having about 4 billion cubic meters of equivalent oil (as of the end of 2010).
Natural minerals in coastal areas as well as on islands have been valued as more than 300 mines and ore containing places, including 59 titan mines and places, have been discovered so far.
Statistics show that Vietnam has over 600 million tonnes of ilmenit titan ore, along with 13 mines of crystal sand with a reserve of over 144 million cubic meters. The coastal region also boasts a rich resource of minerals that are used to make construction materials, including limestone and rocks.
Up to 11,000 species of animals and plants have been found in more than 20 typical ecosystems in six different waters regions across the country. Among the species, about 6,000 species live in the seabed, and there are over 2,000 species of fish, 653 species of seaweeds and 657 species of zooplankton and 537 species of phytoplankton.
There are also 94 mangrove plants, 225 species of sea shrimp, 14 species of sea grass, 15 species of sea snakes, 12 species of sea animals and five species of turtle.
Coral reefs and seaweeds as well as other resources with high value have also been exploited in service of the socio-economic development of the coastal and island localities.
In addition to that, many other sea-related resources, including seaports, wind power, solar and tidal power, have also been explored to serve people’s life.
Generally, the quality of water in coastal localities, estuary and offshore is good, meeting the socio-economic development requirements. Typical ecosystems, including islands, sand dunes, estuaries, mangrove forests and lagoons, have contributed to the diversity of Vietnam’s sea, making the country one of the biodiversity hubs of the world.
Source: VNA
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached $3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth momentum is moderating and market divergece is becoming more pronounced, while the US and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global shrimp forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers place greater emphasis on quality, product specifications, supply consistency and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports continued to grow in August 2026, bringing total export value in the first eight months of the year to US$1.5 billion, up 10% year-on-year. August exports alone reached US$205 million, up 6%. However, market performance has become increasingly divergent, with China and Brazil posting positive growth while the U.S. continued to record a sharp decline.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached US$1.14 billion in August 2026, up 6.4% year on year, bringing the total for the first eight months to more than US$8.0 billion, an increase of 11.9%. Monthly export value remained above US$1 billion, but August growth was only around half the rate recorded cumulatively through the first eight months. This indicates that the eight-month result was supported significantly by stronger performance in earlier months, while market conditions are entering a less predictable period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius is attracting growing interest from Japanese seafood companies as prices of many traditional whitefish species remain high and supply becomes increasingly volatile. Notably, seafood group Kyokuyo has recently continued to feature pangasius among its priority products, highlighting its competitive pricing and stable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As Vietnam’s tilapia industry searches for new growth opportunities, venturing into brackish-water aquaculture could unlock a formidable competitive moat. Bypassing the volume-and-price bloodbath against established global heavyweights, Vietnam could differentiate itself through high-quality tilapia products tailored to specific farming conditions and value-added market segments.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) 2026 is rapidly shaping up to be a formidable stress test for Vietnamese pangasius exports to the United States. While exports to alternative markets maintain a resilient growth trajectory, the U.S market has declined significantly. In the first eight months of the year, pangasius exports to the U.S fell by nearly 14% year-on-year, with August alone recording a decline of more than 50%. The trend shows that difficulties in the U.S. market are not driven solely by weak consumer demand, but also by multiple layers of trade barriers that are intensifying simultaneously, particularly additional import tariffs, anti-dumping duties and growing protectionism for the domestic catfish industry.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan are showing positive signals in 2026, indicating that the market is opening up greater opportunities for pangasius products, particularly processed and value-added products. In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan reached US$31 million, up 20% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached approximately US$5 million, up 30%.
On July 22, 2026, the Government issued Decree No. 292/2026/ND-CP detailing certain articles and providing measures for the organization and implementation of the Law on Foreign Trade Management. The Decree takes effect on September 5, 2026, replacing Decree No. 69/2018/ND-CP.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese pangasius producer Vinh Hoan has won the top prize at the 2026 Seafood Excellence Asia Awards for its Cured Panga Croquette, highlighting the growing potential of value-added pangasius products in international markets.
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