Viet Nam's National System of Marine Protected Areas

In 2001, Viet Nam's first MPA was established in Hon Mun Island (Nha Trang). In 2010, a National MPA System Plan was officially adopted with a vision to establish 16 MPAs by 2020. With an aim to report Viet Nam's state practice concerning MPAs, this article is divided into three parts. The first section will analyze the relevant legal framework on MPAs, addressing the national jurisdictional basis for area-protection, authorities responsible for designating protected areas, administrative process and interaction of authorities responsible for activities within MPAs. The second section will scrutinize each individual MPA project implemented in Viet Nam. The last part is an assessment of the progress of marine protection adopting marine spatial planning approach in Viet Nam by evaluating challenges and opportunities of the contemporary MPA system, identifying the gaps between legislative framework and practice, as well as the ways forward.