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) Currently, Da Nang City has no fishing vessels detained, sanctioned by foreign authorities, or criminally prosecuted for IUU fishing violations. Patrols, monitoring of marine fishing activities, and handling of violations have been prioritized by competent forces, significantly reducing nearshore fishing infringements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel in the first nine months of 2025 reached just over USD 27 million, down as much as 49% compared to the same period in 2024. This is a steep and prolonged decline for many consecutive months, reflecting changes in import demand as well as shifts in the supply structure of this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first 700 tons of Vietnamese tilapia ordered and imported by JBS Group will initially be distributed through supermarket chains, the Horeca network and JBS’s product showrooms in Brazil.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In October 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius exports hit $217 million, representing an 8% increase compared to the same month in 2024. For the first 10 months of the year, total export value has surpassed $1.8 billion, up 9% year-on-year. This growth demonstrates clear positive momentum for the pangasius industry, despite continued declines in certain markets.
In recent days, the Central provinces of Vietnam have been suffering from historic flooding, with prolonged heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and deep inundation causing extremely serious impacts on tens of thousands of households, as well as many VASEP member exporters located in the region. With the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, and in order to promptly assist residents and member exporters in the affected areas to stabilize their lives and restore production activities, VASEP calls on all seafood exporters, organizations, and individuals to extend supports to the people and member exporters in the flood-hit areas. We urge timely and practical material and spiritual contributions to help member exporters and local communities in the severely affected provinces overcome this difficult period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the final days of October 2025, Vietnam’s domestic raw shrimp market remained generally stable, though slight adjustments were recorded in several sizes across key farming regions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 498 million in October 2025, up 26% from the same period last year. This is one of the highest monthly revenues since the beginning of the year, reflecting solid demand in major markets and faster shipment schedules by exporters. From January to October, shrimp export value reached USD 3.9 billion, up 22% compared to the same period in 2024.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 31, 2025, the US Court of International Trade (CIT) officially issued an order to suspend the case filed by the National Fisheries Institute (NFI), the National Restaurant Association (NRA), and several US seafood companies against the US Government concerning the implementation of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang’s fisheries sector has maintained stable growth momentum during the first nine months of 2025, making an important contribution to the province’s socio-economic development. Despite facing numerous challenges, the province is implementing various measures to enhance production efficiency, expand markets, and promote sustainable fisheries development toward deeper integration into the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value in September 2025 reached USD 181 million, up 5% compared to the same period in 2024. The overall trend for the pangasius industry remains positive, with total exports in the first nine months of 2025 reaching nearly USD 1.6 billion, an increase of 9% year-on-year.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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