Regulatory Frameworks for Plastic Waste Management in Vietnam: Legal Gaps, Extended Producer Responsibility, and Pathways Toward a Circular Economy

Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the defining environmental governance challenges of the twenty- first century, generating significant adverse consequences for marine and freshwater ecosystems, human health, and the sustainability of supply chains across the global economy. Vietnam ranks among the world's most significant contributors to marine plastic pollution, a position that reflects both the scale of plastic consumption and the inadequacy of domestic waste management and regulatory systems. Drawing on doctrinal legal analysis of Vietnam's primary environmental legislation — including the Law on Environmental Protection 2020 (Law No. 72/2020/QH14), the Law on Natural Resources and Environment of Sea and Islands 2015, and implementing regulations under Decree No. 08/2022/ND- CP — this review systematically assesses the regulatory framework governing plastic waste management in Vietnam and identifies critical legal gaps constraining effective implementation. The analysis examines four dimensions: (i) the scope and enforceability of extended producer responsibility (EPR) obligations under the Environmental Protection Law; (ii) the adequacy of single-use plastic restrictions and labelling requirements; (iii) the legal framework for informal waste sector integration and community-based waste collection; and (iv) Vietnam's alignment with emerging international legal instruments on plastic pollution, including the ongoing negotiation of a Global Plastics Treaty under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Assembly. The findings demonstrate that while Vietnam has made substantial legislative progress — particularly through the introduction of EPR provisions in the 2020 Law and the phased prohibition of single-use plastics scheduled for full implementation by 2030 — significant normative and institutional gaps persist. These include the absence of binding take-back targets for producer responsibility organizations, insufficient integration of the informal waste sector into formal regulatory mechanisms, and the lack of a dedicated legal instrument addressing marine litter and abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear. Legislative and institutional recommendations are proposed to strengthen Vietnam's legal foundation for plastic waste reduction and circular economy transition.