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
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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