Viet Nam Pilot Ocean Accounts in Quang Ninh Province

Last updated on 02 Dec 2025

Project duration: February 2023 - March 2025

Pilot region: Quang Ninh Province

Overview

From 2023 to 2025, the Institute of Strategy and Policy on Agriculture and Environment (ISPAE, formerly ISPONRE) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) collaborated under the Global Ocean Accounts Partnership (GOAP) to pilot ocean accounts in Quang Ninh Province, Viet Nam. This project was supported by the UK’s Blue Planet Fund. It successfully implemented solid waste and governance accounts that hoped to be integrated into the national accounting system and also into development plans, especially in Quang Ninh Province.

The pilot successfully developed:

A Solid Waste Account (2015–2022), applying the UN SEEA-Central Framework
A Governance Account for ocean and coastal environmental management
A study on the contribution of ocean sectors to Viet Nam’s GDP, which was found to be 7.2% in 2020
A series of capacity building workshops and bespoke training resources at both national and provincial levels
Knowledge sharing outputs, including expert contributions in national and international panels, technical exchanges learning events to enhance ocean accounts development and implementation
Policy briefs for communication and advocacy
A video documentary summarising the pilot’s journey and policy relevance

Advancing the Work in Quang Ninh and Beyond

Learn more about the Ha Long Consensus on Ocean Accounting

The flagship outcome of the Viet Nam ocean accounting pilot is the adoption of the Ha Long Consensus on Ocean Accounting for Sustainable Development in south and southeast Asia, agreed during the Regional Workshop held in Quang Ninh on 3–4 March 2025. The Consensus reflects a shared regional commitment to integrate ocean accounts into national decision-making, recognising the ocean’s vital role in supporting economic prosperity, social well-being, and ecological resilience.

It outlines three priority action areas:

Strengthening regional collaboration and standardisation through an south and southeast Asia Community of Practice on Ocean Accounting and Blue Economy,
Mobilising sustainable finance for blue economy initiatives, and
Advancing digital infrastructure and data integration to support policy and investment.

The Ha Long Consensus positions ocean accounting as a cornerstone for sustainable and inclusive ocean governance across the region.

Delivering Knowledge for Action

Throughout the pilot project in Quang Ninh Province, a diverse set of knowledge products was developed to support policy-making, strengthen capacity, and share insights with both national and international stakeholders. These outputs highlight the pilot’s integrated approach—bridging science, statistics, governance, and communication to support Viet Nam’s progress toward sustainable ocean development. The materials include technical reports, policy briefs, training resources, and communication tools, all of which have informed decision-making at provincial and national levels. They also serve as valuable references for other countries exploring ocean accounting and natural capital initiatives.

Knowledge products produced

Technical reports on the development of ocean accounts (e.g. solid waste and governance) (available by request)
Policy brief: Developing a Solid Waste Account for Quang Ninh
Policy brief: contributions of Viet Nam's ocean sectors to GDP
Policy brief: Vietnam Ocean account Case study in Quang Ninh province (2022)
A concept note proposing a national ocean accounting platform in Viet Nam (available by request)
Scientific publications to disseminate methods and findings to broader audiences
Knowledge dissemination activities (e.g., conference or workshop presentations)
A video documentary summarising the pilot’s journey and policy relevance

These products have been presented at national and regional workshops, including the Ha Long Bay Regional Workshop in March 2025. They aim to support replication, inform policy, and strengthen ocean governance frameworks grounded in data and integrated planning in Viet Nam and the region.