Integrated Coastal Zone Management in the central region of Vietnam – issues and recommendations

Abstract

     Vietnam has a marine area of about one million km2 and a coastal zone of 3260 km length, which includes 29 coastal provinces/cities. The coastal districts of Vietnam encompasses 17% of the whole country area and about 31% of its population are concentrated there, respectively 25 million people in 2005. The marine and coastal zone of Vietnam currently contributes up to 48% of GDP. The coastal zone in the center region of Vietnam is influenced by server natural conditions and limited resources and environment potential. However, the need of socio-economic development in that area is great. Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is essential issues in order to develop that area in sustainable way. ICZM is new subject in Vietnam and we do not have much experience in that field. In this paper, the authors would like to present some study results and assessments on the state of development and management in the central coastal zone of Vietnam as well as recommendations for ICZM in order to exploit coastal resources solidly for socio-economic development.