Vietnam's seas and islands are facing a series of problems relating to degradation in landscape, marine and coastal ecosystems; coastal environmental pollution; and increasing negative impacts from natural disasters, climate change, and sea level rise. Therefore, a national marine spatial planning is needed to create orientations for sustainable exploitation and use of marine and island resources, and harmonise socio-economic development with national defence and security.

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on August 13 approved a resolution to clarify vague definitions in the freshly-enforced Law on Planning.